3 Reds prospects who are staring down a make-or-break 2026 season

The Cincinnati Reds added a few prospects to the team's 40-man roster earlier this offseason. Shortstops Edwin Arroyo and Leo Balcazar along with outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez will be looking to make an impact at the Major League level next season.

All three players enjoyed breakout seasons in 2025, and that was a big factor in the Reds' decision to add them to the roster back in November. Balcazar even put an exclamation point on his candidacy after a stellar performance during the Arizona Fall League.

Heading into 2026, a handful of Reds prospects are staring down a make-or-break season. If they hope to follow in the footsteps of Arroyo, Balcazar, and Rodriguez, they too will need to excel when the season gets underway next spring.

3 Reds prospects who are staring down a make-or-break 2026 season

Ricky Cabrera, Reds third base prospect

Ricky Cabrera has seen his stock rise and fall over the years, but after an early-season injury ended his time at High-A Dayton after just 21 games, one has to wonder what's next for the former top prospect.

Cabrera hit just .187/.276/.240 before being declared out for the year with a knee injury. His bat has always been ahead of his glove, but the Reds' brass will be looking for him to take a major leap forward — both offensively and defensively — in 2026 after losing nearly an entire year's worth of development in 2025.

Carlos Jorge, Reds outfield prospect

Carlos Jorge's name used to be found among the Reds' top-10 prospects, but MLB Pipeline no longer ranks the outfielder among Cincinnati's top-30. The diminutive 22-year-old possesses tantalizing talent, but he's been stuck at High-A since 2023.

Jorge's been an average hitter with the Dayton Dragons the past two seasons, and after seeing a dip in power last season, the outfielder will need to bounce back in big way once the 2026 season gets underway.

Ty Floyd, Reds pitching prospect

When the Reds took former LSU standout Ty Floyd with their second pick in 2023, fans were ecstatic. But after signing for more than $2 million, the Reds have seen very little from the right-hander. Injuries have sidelined Floyd and he's made just eight starts since being drafted over two years ago.

Floyd hasn't thrown a pitch since May of last year after suffering an undisclosed injury. He'll be available for the Rule 5 Draft next winter, but at the moment, there's no way the Reds can justify adding him to the 40-man roster. Floyd needs an impressive (and healthy) 2026 season if he hopes to join the big league roster in the near future.