Reds: 3 little known players who’ll make a big impact in 2021

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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 29: Carson Fulmer #51 of the Chicago White Sox pitches. Fulmer was picked up by the Reds this spring. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

Everyone in the city of Cincinnati has heard of Joey Votto. Casual fans have heard the names Eugenio Suarez and Amir Garrett. But has everyone throughout Reds Country heard of Cionel Perez? How about Brandon Bailey? While not every player that makes the Cincinnati Reds roster is household name, that doesn’t mean they won’t contribute.

Last season, Tejay Antone rose from relative obscurity to a key piece of the Cincinnati bullpen. The right-hander is in the mix to be the team’s fifth starter this season, but was a relative unknown heading into 2020.

How about Aristides Aquino? While he didn’t make his 2019 debut until August, The Punisher wasted little time making sure that the baseball world knew who he was. Aquino blasted 14 home runs during his first month in the big leagues and looks to be in line to make this year’s roster out fo Goodyear.

So who makes the leap from obscurity to fame in 2021? Will it be a young rookie who we haven’t heard of yet? Maybe a grizzled veteran who seizes an opportunity. No matter what, it’s bound to happen. Who are three unknown players likely to make a big impact in 2021?

Carson Fulmer, Reds right-handed pitcher

Carson Fulmer, a former first round pick, was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates and claimed by the Cincinnati Reds a little over a week ago. Though he hasn’t appeared in a game for the Reds this winter, the coaching staff is really high on the former Vanderbilt Commodore.

Fulmer was taken with the eighth overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox and made his big league debut in 2016. Over the past five years, Fulmer has been sent down to the minors and brought back up to the majors more times than he’d like to count. Fulmer’s major league career consists of just 105 innings of work.

There is reason for optimism, however, as Fulmer is a former Top 100 prospect who possesses an electric fastball who’s spin-rate, according to Baseball Savant, is in the 91st percentile. Fulmer is highly competitive and out of minor-league options. Look for him to stick on the 26-man roster out of camp, and become a fixture in the Reds’ bullpen this season.

Cincinnati Reds Max Schrock (32) singles in the third inning of the MLB Cactus League Spring Training game. /

Max Schrock, Reds infielder

Will Max Schrock make the Reds Opening Day roster? There’s a great possibility that he will, but that’s irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I expect Schrock to be a key contributor to this year’s Cincinnati team all season regardless if he breaks camp with the Reds or not.

Schrock is the left-handed version of Kyle Farmer; a gritty, hard-nosed, versatile infielder who’s not afraid to do the little things. Schrock has played for division rivals St. Louis and Chicago, and this year I expect the 26-year-old to stick it to his former teams en route to solid 2021 campaign with Cincinnati.

Schrock is not going to wow you with immense athleticism or eye-popping power, but the way he approaches the game is quite humbling. The former 13th round pick of the Washington Nationals takes his approach at the dish very seriously. Schrock is not one to strikeout often, and I think David Bell will use that to his advantage in certain situations this season.

One of the biggest complaints from Reds fans last season was the lack of baserunners. Schrock will give this team just that. The left-handed hitting infielder has a smooth approach at the dish and his keen eye has resulted in a very low strikeout percentage throughout his minor league career.

Joey Votto’s health and Eugenio Suarez’s position on the field will greatly impact Max Schrock’s ability to make the Opening Day roster. But, if Kyle Farmer is viewed as more of regular in Cincinnati’s lineup this season, look for Schrock to land the bulk of the innings as the team’s top left-handed utility player; especially if a right-handed pitcher is on the bump.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 27: A detail view of a Cincinnati Reds red and glove against the Minnesota Twins. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Riley O’Brien, Reds right-handed pitcher

Riley O’Brien has already been optioned to Triple-A Louisville, so don’t expect the 26-year-old to make his Reds debut on April 1st. However, there’s a strong possibility he’ll be one of the first bullpen arms called up if a reliever suffers an injury.

O’Brien was traded to the Cincinnati Reds from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Cody Reed last season. Reed had been ineffective for years after being one of the key pieces in the trade that sent Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals. The only player who the Reds received in return from that trade still on the roster is Brandon Finnegan.

O’Brien, however, has a chance to be part of the Cincinnati bullpen in 2021. Reds GM Nick Krall has talked about the need to have pitchers with minor-league options available, and O’Brien fits that bill. The right-hander has yet to make his big league debut, so he has three options remaining.

A two-pitch hurler, O’Brien has a nice fastball/ curveball combo and has three scoreless outings this spring with five strikeouts over 2.1 innings of work. O’Brien’s fastball sits in thee mid-90s, but he has the ability to rare back and deliver that pitch at about 98-MPH if necessary.

Predicting the Reds Opening Day batting order. Next

Riley O’Brien is a lanky 6-foot-4, so it’s unlikely he’ll make a play as part of the Cincinnati rotation. But, the Reds’ No. 16 ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline is likely to make his debut this season as part of the relief corps. With so much uncertainty in the Reds’ bullpen this season, it’s easy to see O’Brien sticking around for 30-plus appearances in 2021, setting himself up nicely to have a more solidified role out of the pen in 2022.

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