6 Reds prospects who could earn a 40-man roster spot despite Rule 5 uncertainty

At the moment, it doesn't appear as though the Rule 5 Draft will proceed as scheduled. With the impending lockout likely to occur on December 1, the MLB Winter Meetings will presumably be canceled, meaning the Rule 5 Draft will be postponed.

But it's assumed that many teams will continue to operate as though the Rule 5 Draft will still take place in December. As such, the Cincinnati Reds will look to protect several prospects by adding them to the 40-man roster.

6 Reds prospects who could earn a 40-man roster spot despite Rule 5 uncertainty

Carlos Sanchez, Reds shortstop prospect

The Reds have abundance of shortstop prospects in their pipeline, but Carlos Sanchez has flown under the radar. He's currently playing in the Arizona Fall League in an effort to enhance his résumé, but his performance in the minor leagues (.270/.376/.440 with 16 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a 113 wRC+) may have already been enough to snag a spot on the Reds 40-man roster.

Jay Allen II, Reds outfield prospect

Jay Allen II is one of the Reds' most athletically-gifted prospects. Allen was a multi-sport athlete in high school, and everything finally seemed to click for the 23-year-old this past season. He hit .267/.364/.438 while splitting time between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, and is a good bet to join the Reds' roster later this winter.

Cody Adcock, Reds pitching prospect

Cody Adcock was a late-round pick of the Reds in 2023. After a stellar college career at the University of Arkansas, he's shown an ability to rack up Ks at every level of the minor leagues. Last season, he posted a 31.3% strikeout rate, but struggled with command (14.9% BB rate). The Reds, however, like electric arms who can induce swing and miss, so don't be shocked if Adcock is a surprise addition to the roster this offseason.

Carter Graham, Reds infield prospect

Carter Graham is a shoo-in to join the Reds' 40-man roster in the coming weeks. He's currently playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the AFL, and while he hasn't found his footing out in the desert, his performance in the minor leagues this past season has many with in the organization keeping a close watch on his development. Graham crushed 29 homers in 2026 with a .565 slugging percentage and a 151 wRC+. He could make his MLB debut next season.

Bryce Hubbart, Reds pitching prospect

Bryce Hubbart is a former high draft pick who's been slowed by injuries. He got into 25 games this season, and while his 7.16 ERA was rather unsightly, he was striking out more than 11 batters per nine innings pitched. He's the type of pitcher another organization could take a flier on, and just to be safe, Cincinnati might look to add him to the roster.

Cam Collier, Reds infield prospect

The biggest question mark among the Reds' list of Rule 5 eligible players is Cam Collier. He's got the pedigree and draft status, but his power dipped significantly this past season and one wonders what his future really looks like. Collier's a tweener when it comes to whether or not he'll be added to the 40-man roster, but don't take that to mean the Reds aren't ready to give up on the 21-year-old.

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