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

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (79) waits for a signal.Los Angeles Angels At Cincinnati Reds /

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.

Cincinnati Reds minor league pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) warms up. /

2. Nick Lodolo, Reds left-handed pitcher

I’m not as bullish on Nick Lodolo staying in the minor leagues. In fact, I think the Cincinnati Reds need to accelerate his ascension. The left-hander has performed well during the first month of the season, and if those results continue through June, Lodolo should be promoted to Triple-A Louisville by July.

Lodolo was the seventh overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft, and was well-regarded as an advanced college arm. I firmly believe that had the minor league baseball season not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nick Lodolo would have made his major league debut in 2020.

So far this season, the southpaw is 2-0 with a 1.01 ERA in five starts. Lodolo has 38 punch outs in 26.2 innings of work and hasn’t allowed a home run all season. While fellow first-round Hunter Greene still needs to refine his pitches, Lodolo has the tools and knows how to use them.

There’s an outside chance that Nick Lodolo receives a September call-up, but I’m not holding my breath. A lot may have to do with the state of the team around the All-Star break. If Cincinnati is in contention for the division crown, I expect the front office to stand pat. However, if the Reds are out of contention near the trade deadline, that could impact their decision regarding Lodolo.

If the Reds are already out of the playoff race by July, there’s a chance that several starting pitchers could be moved at the deadline. Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Wade Miley could all be pitching elsewhere after July 30th. If that’s the case, Lodolo may get his shot in 2021. If not, he’ll have to wait until next season to the toe the rubber at Great American Ball Park.

CARY, NC – FEBRUARY 23: NCAA baseball. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

3. Graham Ashcraft, Reds right-handed pitcher

If you haven’t heard of Graham Ashcraft, you’re not alone. The former Mississippi State right-hander underwent two surgeries during his time in Starkville before transferring to UAB where he found success pitching for the Blazers. The Cincinnati Reds took a flyer on Ashcraft in the 2019 MLB Draft, and it may pay off quite nicely.

Ashcraft is currently at Advanced-A Dayton, so it’s quite a stretch to assume that the Reds organization would quickly promote the right-hander through the farm system. However, Ashcraft possesses the tools to be an effective reliever in the big leagues, and that’s an area of Cincinnati’s major league roster that needs immediate attention.

Ashcraft is 23-years old, so his maturity is of no concern. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound hurler has a fastball/ slider combination that could be lethal at the major league level. Currently, Ashcraft is a starting pitcher for the Dayton Dragons, but there’s legitimate concern about his ability to go the distance consistently enough to remain in the rotation.

With a plethora of talented pitchers in the farm system, the Reds front office should scrap the idea of developing Graham Ashcraft into a marginal starter, and focus on him becoming an effective reliever. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are future starters, and so is Lyon Richardson. But, Ashcraft has reliever written all over him.

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The right-hander is likely to get passes over by more advanced arms, such as Riley O’Brien and may be even Tony Santillan. However, if Ashcraft proves that he’s able to get those swings and misses that everyone likes to see, then the Alabama native may be ready for relief work sooner than people think. Ashcraft has a 30.5% strikeout-rate according to FanGraphs.

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