Reds prospect: Rece Hinds finding his power after prolonged stint on IL

Rece Hinds is one of the top young prospects in the Cincinnati Reds organization. This season has offered plenty of struggles for the former second-round pick, as a torn meniscus robbed Hinds of the better part of two months of action. However, since his return to Low-A Daytona, Hinds has been tearing the cover off the ball.

Hinds began his 2021 season with the Daytona Tortugas and hit .229/.319/.458 with five doubles, a triple, and four home runs in 22 games. Hinds’ calling card is his power, which is among the best in Cincinnati’s farm system.

Hinds’ injury put the right-handed slugger on the shelf for about two months, and the infield prospect to sent to the team’s training complex in Arizona to rehab during early August before returning to the Tortugas during the last week of August.

Reds’ prospect Rece Hinds has shown massive power since his return.

Since returning to Low-A Daytona, Rece Hinds has shown what makes him one of the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects. In nine games, Hinds has 11 hits, including four round trippers, as well as two doubles and a triple. That’s right, seven of his 11 hits have gone for extra bases.

Hinds is currently slashing .275/.293/.675 since returning from the injured list. Hinds has only drawn one walk in his 41 plate appearances and gone down swinging 11 times, but his .968 OPS and 146 wRC+ since returning from his knee injury are extremely encouraging.

Cincinnati’s other big bopper from the 2019 draft class, Tyler Callihan, is currently on the 60-day IL with an elbow injury. The former third-round pick is expected to miss the remainder of the 2021 minor league season, making it two consecutive years when Callihan when he’s had little to no in-game action. Callihan hit .299/.351/.437 earlier this season for Low-A Daytona.

Rece Hinds is currently ranked as the Cincinnati Reds No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and No. 9 by FanGraphs. Hinds currently profiles as a third baseman, but if he outgrows the position, we could see the 21-year-old make the transition to the outfield grass as he ascends through the Reds’ farm system.