Reds: 3 prospects who should debut in 2021, but probably won’t

The Cincinnati Reds have seen a few rookies make their long-awaited debut this season. Right-handed reliever Ryan Hendrix got the call in late April, and just last week Vladimir Gutierrez made his major league debut. However, there’s a couple other top-tier prospects who may be big league-ready, but are unlikely to make it to the majors in 2021.

The Reds have oftentimes taken a cautious approach with their young prospects. It was strange to see Jonathan India make the Opening Day roster in April, and even more strange to see Jose Barrero, formerly Jose Garcia, make his major league debut in 2020.

However, I tend to think that those are anomalies, and we’re likely to see Cincinnati’s front office revert back to the norm. A few of the Reds top prospects may be ready for the big leagues, but the team may not yet be ready for them to see their name on the back of a major league jersey.

1. Hunter Greene, Reds right-handed pitcher

Will Hunter Greene’s stuff play in the big leagues? You betcha. But, this is move that I fully support. In no way should the Cincinnati Reds fuss around with Greene’s development. I’m sure the right-hander has an innings limit following Tommy John surgery in 2019, and with no vacancies in the starting rotation, the team should be quite content to wait until next season.

Greene has the potential to be a star. The California native routinely hits 100-MPH on the radar gun, and his personality is infectious. Not only can Greene become a star for the Reds, but he may well become one of the brightest stars in the entire sport.

Hunter Greene is fantastic athlete, and possesses all the traits that a future No. 1 has, but there’s no need to rush the 21-year-old to big leagues, and certainly not as a reliever. Greene, if he continues to dominate in Double-A, will likely make the leap to Triple-A later this season, and that’s where the right-hander’s 2021 season should end.