4 Reds prospects who should follow Chase Burns and receive a lightning-fast promotion

Chase Burns made short work of the opposition at High-A and is on his way to Double-A Chattanooga. A number of Cincinnati Reds fans assumed Burns would open the 2025 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts, but the team's front office decided to ease the flamethrower into pro ball with a quick three-game tune in High-A Dayton.

But Burns will now take his game to southeastern Tennessee. The competition should be a bit more challenging, and will give the last year's No. 2 overall pick an opportunity to prove that he's ready for the next step in his evolution as a pitcher.

Burns' promotion to Double-A came rather quickly, but the right-hander might not be the only Reds prospect who makes a rapid jump to the next level. Which four Reds prospects could follow suit and receive a lightning-fast promotion?

4 Reds prospects who should follow Chase Burns and receive a lightning-fast promotion

Ty Floyd, Reds pitching prospect

Ty Floyd missed all of last season after being selected with the 38th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Floyd suffered a shoulder injury and underwent surgery last May, but he's back on the bump this season and currently pitching at Low-A. In four starts for the Daytona Tortugas, Floyd has a 2.77 ERA and 0.69 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 13 innings of work. It's time for Floyd to make the jump to High-A.

Leo Balcazar, Reds shortstop prospect

Leo Balcazar is another Reds prospect who's development has been slowed by injury. The shortstop played just 18 games in 2023, but was back on the field in 2024 and spent 102 games at High-A Dayton. Back with the Dayton Dragons this season, Balcazar has an OPS approaching .900 and is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter. Cincinnati would be wise to give Balcazar opportunities at Double-A before deciding whether or not to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason.

Austin Hendrick, Reds outfield prospect

Has Austin Hendrick finally figured it out? There's only one way to be sure—it's time for the Reds to add the former first-round pick to the Louisville Bats roster. Currently at Double-A Chattanooga, Hendrick is finally producing at the level expected from the 12th-overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Hendrick has cut down on the strikeouts and increased the walks while maintaining his power. He now has over 500 at-bats at the Double-A level. It's time for his next challenge.

Kenya Huggins, Reds pitching prospect

With Kenya Huggins nearly two years removed from Tommy John surgery, it's time for the Reds to take the training wheels off and move him up to High-A Dayton. Huggins was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but has yet to pitch above A-Ball. In three outings for the Tortugas this season, Huggins has logged 11 innings and posted a 3.27 ERA, while striking out nearly 30% of the batters he's faced. Prior to his injury, Huggins was throwing in the upper 90s. It's time to see if he can duplicate that type of production at the next level.

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