Cincinnati Reds: 3 prospects who could make a surprise debut in 2021

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CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 14: A close up view of a hat and baseball glove in the dugout with the New Era logo before a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

The Cincinnati Reds saw four players make their big league debut in 2020. Tejay Antone, Tyler Stephenson, José García, and Shogo Akiyama made their major league debuts last season. All but Akiyama were somewhat unexpected. Which three prospects may make a surprise debut during the 2021 season?

Heading into last season, it was easy to predict that Akiyama would be making his major league debut. After a successful career overseas, there was little doubt that the Japanese outfielder was going to find his way onto the big stage. The same could be said for Nick Senzel in 2019.

Looking at the Reds top prospects this go-around, it wouldn’t be very outrageous to claim that Nick Lodolo or Jonathan India would make it to The Show in 2021. Lodolo, an advanced college arm, was selected in the first-round of the 2019 MLB Draft with the idea that he’d rocket through the minor leagues.

As for India, the young infielder flashed all kinds of potential while playing for the Florida Gators during his college career, but has yet to live up to the hype of being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. That said, India will, at the very least, begin the 2021 season at Triple-A Louisville and may receive a call-up if he performs well for the Bats.

Tejay Antone was a relative unknown in the Reds farm system until 2019 and the right-hander made his major league debut last season. Antone will enter spring training with a real shot at being the team’s fifth starter in 2021. So, which one of Cincinnati’s young prospects is most likely to follow in the footsteps of Antone?

HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: The game ball is left on the mound prior to Game One of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

1. Jacob Heatherly, Reds left-handed pitcher

A third-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2017, Jacob Heatherly was surprising left unprotected in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. Thankfully, no team took a chance on the southpaw and Heatherly is still in the Reds farm system. According to MLB Pipeline, Heatherly is the highest-rated left-hander in Cincinnati’s system not named Nick Lodolo.

Heatherly was given second-round money from Cincinnati in order to pry him away from his commitment to the University of Alabama. Some personal issues and a shoulder injury shrunk Heatherly’s 2019 season to just four games, and of course, there was no minor league baseball in 2020.

Jacob Heatherly, however, gives the Cincinnati Reds something they’re exceedingly short on at the moment; left-handed relief help. While the money doled out to Heatherly following the draft would lead you to believe the team viewed him as a starting pitcher prior to the draft, his lack of command and control may keep him from ever reaching that plateau.

Heatherly has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and his curveball is a plus-pitch. Given that Cincinnati will be going into the season with Amir Garrett as the team’s only left-handed option out of the bullpen, don’t be shocked if Heatherly makes his big league debut in 2021. The Alabama native is still just 22-years old and has yet to pitch above A-Ball, but stranger things have happened.

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 11: A Cincinnati Reds helmet is seen on the ground during the game. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Mariel Bautista, Reds outfielder

I know, I know, the Cincinnati Reds outfield is overcrowded and the last thing the team needs to do is add another player to the mix. However, Mariel Bautista’s raw abilities are begging for this young man to have an opportunity to showcase what he can do. Bautista was signed out of the Dominican Republic when he was just a teenager, but his play this offseason was impressive.

Bautista doesn’t have the best track record in the minor leagues. Now 23-years of age, the outfielder has yet to play above A-Ball. That said, Bautista put up some phenomenal numbers while playing 56 games for the Billings Mustangs in 2018. Bautista hit .330/.386/.541 with eight homers and 37 RBIs. Bautista also racked up 16 stolen bases.

However, it’s his play during the Dominican Winter League this offseason that has to be giving the Reds front office confidence. In six games for Licey, Mariel Bautista hit .308/.357/.615. For comparison’s sake, Aristides Aquino played 11 games for Licey last winter and hit just .209/.255/.395; this after setting the world on fire with 14 home runs the previous August.

Mariel Bautista was not invited to the alternate site last season, so he’s got that working against him. But, he does have a lot of raw power and good speed. Bautista has to find a way to cut down on his strikeout-rate, which sat at 20.3% during his last professional stop at Single-A Dayton. It may be a long shot, but Bautista could break onto the major league roster later next season.

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 16: Alfredo Rodriguez #3 of the Scottsdale Scorpions and Cincinnati Reds in action during the 2018 Arizona Fall League. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Alfredo Rodriguez, Reds shortstop

It’s now or never for Alfredo Rodriguez. While I don’t except the Cincinnati Reds to roll out of spring training with Rodriguez as the team’s starting shortstop, they need to see if the 26-year-old is ready for the big leagues. Cincinnati invested $7M, signing him out of Cuba in 2016. It’s time to see if Rodriguez has what it takes to be a big leaguer.

There’s no doubt that Rodriguez can play the position defensively. In fact, for as much as scouts rave about José García’s defense, Rodriguez is there superior defender. The problem lies, much like García, with Rodriguez’s bat. Over four minor league seasons, Rodriguez owns just a .612 OPS and a .302 on-base percentage.

Rodriguez is not a power hitter, as he has only five home runs in 1,203 minor league at-bats. That will certainly limit his opportunities in the major leagues. However, Rodriguez’s glove is his calling card, and based on Cincinnati’s horrendous infield defense last season, the idea of having him on the field late in games as a defensive replacement should be intriguing to David Bell.

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In 14 games during last spring’s Cactus League, Alfredo Rodriguez slashed .364/.364/.606 with two home runs and four RBIs in 33 at-bats. The young infielder will need to duplicate that production this spring in order to get a look from Bell’s staff. Rodriguez will likely begin the season at Triple-A Louisville, but if he has success, he may make it to the bigs before season’s end.

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