The Cincinnati Reds farm system isn't as loaded as it has been in years past, but there are still plenty of talented young players in the organization. Depending on which outlet you follow, the Reds have anywhere from three to five top-100 prospects in the sport, including the likes of Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Cam Collier.
But there's always that prospect who nobody's ever heard of that comes out of the woodwork and bursts onto the scene. Elly De La Cruz was nowhere to be seen until he leaped into the limelight in 2022. Little was known about the tall and lanky shortstop from the Dominican Republic when he came stateside, but De La Cruz is now one of the biggest stars in the game.
Prospects like Zach Maxwell, Ricardo Cabrera, and Ethan O'Donnell have steadily been building their resumés of late, but if you follow the Reds closely, it's a good bet that you've heard of those three players. But how about Adam Serwinowski? Chances are few Reds fans have heard his name until now.
Adam Serwinowski is one of the most underrated Reds prospects
While Serwinowski's name is not easy to pronounce, you'll soon become quite familiar with it if the Reds' left-handed pitching prospect is able to duplicate his performance from a season ago. Serwinowski spent the entire season at Low-A Daytona and started 25 games. But the Reds' development staff is bringing Serwinowski along slowly and only allowed him to reach 85 ⅔ innings total. That comes out to just over three innings pitched per start.
But Serwinowski is only 20 years old. Taken with the 453rd pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Reds selected Serwinowski out of Eastside High School in South Carolina and signed him for just $125,000. Serwinowski made his professional debut that years, but tossed just one inning in the Arizona Complex League before returning to the ACL in 2023 where he logged 27 ⅓ innings in 11 games.
An immaculate start for Adam Serwinowski ✨
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 20, 2024
The @Reds prospect pumps nine straight strikes to fan the side in order for the @daytonatortugas. pic.twitter.com/Yoyp7WE5rt
But the Reds pushed the southpaw to the lower-level minors last season and the results were terrific. While his control is still a work in progress — as if oftentimes the case with young pitchers — Serwinowski's fastball/ breaking ball combo is quite impressive. According to MLB Pipeline, Serwinowski's velocity made a significant jump from with his heater now touching the upper 90s. Serwinowski struck out more than 11 batters per nine innings pitched and posted a 3.57 ERA and 3.47 FIP.
Serwinowski has some reliever risk, but if he can develop a third offering and increase his control and command, the Reds may have some special down on the farm. Chase Petty's development was equally slow after coming over from the Minnesota Twins, and now the young hurler is on the cusp of making his major league debut in 2025. Serwinowski could be nipping at his heels if he continues to develop in the minor leagues this season.