Cincinnati Reds: 3 players who could sign Fernando Tatis-like extension

1. Hunter Greene, Reds right-handed pitcher

There’s a good chance, if he proves that he’s fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, that Hunter Greene makes his MLB debut this season. However, the 21-year-old has yet to play above A-Ball. The injury he suffered during the 2018 season, combined with the absence of a minor league season in 2020, have robbed Greene of some much-needed time to develop.

However, Greene has continued to rehab and was brought the team’s alternate site last season. Greene possesses all the tools to be an elite-level starting pitcher. If he can put together a solid showing this spring, there’s a good chance that Greene will bypass Advanced-A Dayton and be sent straight to Double-A Chattanooga to begin the 2021 season.

By season’s end, I fully expect Hunter Greene to be pitching for the Louisville Bats or, perhaps, he’ll be a September call-up. Greene’s ability has been well-documented. The right-hander combines size (6-foot-5, 230-pounds) and strength and consistently hits triple-digits on the radar gun and typically sits in the upper-90s.

Reports are that Greene was working up to six innings per outing last summer at Prasco Park, so there’s no reason to think he won’t be seeing plenty of opportunities to go deep into games during the minor league season in 2021.

With Hunter Greene likely hitting the big leagues during his age-22 season, he’d be under team control through 2028. However, if the right-hander performs up to expectations, the Cincinnati Reds may want to lock up their future ace well before he’s up for arbitration, much like we saw San Diego do with Fernando Tatis Jr.

Rece Hinds, Reds infielder

Let’s face it, big contracts like the one signed by Fernando Tatis Jr. are typically given to position players, not pitchers. Sure, Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole signed massive contracts last offseason, but more times than not, the big bucks are given to those players who are in the lineup every day and who’s risk of longterm injury is less.

Rece Hinds is one of the better young prospects in the Reds farm system. While a quad injury robbed the high school standout of his first professional season after Cincinnati drafted him in the second-round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Hinds has elite-level power, which is something that is of great value in today’s game.

Hinds is a boom-or-bust prospect, as it will be up to his ability to actually make contact that will determine whether or not he makes it. While Hinds’ power is his calling card, the 20-year-old is consistently swinging for the fences every time he steps to the plate. If the Reds coaching staff can instill some discipline in him, Hinds has a chance to be fixture in the middle of the lineup for years to come.

Rece Hinds, like every other young prospect, was not helped by the coronavirus pandemic that wiped out an entire season of minor league baseball. However, I’d expect Hinds to begin the 2021 season at Single-A Daytona. If his pitch recognition is improved, a quick ascension through the farm system may be in order.

José García, Reds shortstop

If Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, who says José García is going to be a monster, is correct in his assessment, the Reds shortstop of the future could be the next Cincinnati player to ink a massive long-term contract extension. I have a feeling we’ll see García in the Queen City before the end of the 2021 season, and he may even be the team’s Opening Day shortstop on April 1st.

When it comes to defense, García has the “it” factor. Even at 6-foot-2, the Cuban-born García has the range, speed, arm strength, and quickness to field the shortstop position at an elite level. In the batter’s box, however, we’ve yet to see the 22-year-old really shine. Last season, in just 67 at-bats, García hit just .194 and struck out 26 times.

For his sake, I’m hopeful that Cincinnati sets up their young infielder for success by starting him at either Double-A Chattanooga or Triple-A Louisville. If García shows the ability to consistently hit Double-A and Triple-A pitching, then I have no qualms about fast tracking him to the big leagues. However, the front office should not rush his development.

José García has the makings of the best Reds shortstop since Zack Cozart fielded the position, and if Larkin’s correct, he may be the best shortstop fans in Cincinnati will have seen since No. 11 suited up for his hometown Reds.

The idea of signing anyone on the Cincinnati Reds current roster to a long-term extension is laughable. However, don’t forget that Fernando Tatis Jr. was not a slam-dunk to be an all-world player. Coming out of the Dominican Republic, Tatis Jr. was ranked as the 30th best International prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Tatis Jr. signed for just $700K with the Chicago White Sox who promptly traded the young infielder the following season to the San Diego Padres along with Erik Johnson for James Shields. I’d say the Padres got the better end of that deal.