Reds: Another minor league pitcher receives impressive achievement

Bryce Bonnin, one of the Cincinnati Reds‘ top prospects, returned to the field in July and received top honors in Minor League Baseball. Bonnin was named Low-A Southeast Pitcher of the Month. The right-hander is the second pitcher for the Daytona Tortugas, Cincinnati’s Low-A affiliate, to take home the honors this season. James Proctor received the award in May.

Bonnin was taken in the third-round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech. The former Red Raider had spent the early part of his college career with the Arkansas Razorbacks, but his desire to be a starter rather than reliever led the right-hander back to his home state.

Bonnin was out of the Tortugas’ starting rotation for the first two months of the season with injury, but returned on July 7th and was lights out. In his four starts last month, Bryce Bonnin went 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA and punched out 30 batters while walking just three over 19 innings.

Bryce Bonnin could be a future starter for the Reds.

The Cincinnati Reds rotation was a strength of the team in 2020, and with all the pitching prospects making noise in the minor leagues this season, the franchise’s starting rotation could be a force for years to come.

We’ve already seen Hunter Greene elevated to Triple-A earlier this season. The flame throwing right-hander is 3-5 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts for the Louisville Bats and has 60 strikeouts over 44.2 innings.

Another first-rounder, Nick Lodolo made his first Triple-A start this past week. The southpaw went just 2.2 innings, struck out two and walked two as well. In his 10 starts at Double-A Chattanooga, Lodolo posted a 1.84 ERA over 44 innings and struck out 68 batters.

Cincinnati also has Lyon Richardson (2-4 5.10 ERA), Christian Roa (2-1 2.63 ERA), Riley O’Brien (5-5 4.12 ERA), and Graham Ashcraft (10-3 2.40 ERA) having success at varying levels of the minor leagues this season.

Bryce Bonnin’s recent accolades will see the right-hander join the conversation as well. Bonnin has a crossfire delivery, that cause some scouts to think his future may be in the bullpen. But if the right-hander can refine his control and command in the next couple of years, Bonnin could find his way into the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation.