Grading the Reds' last 5 first-round picks with the 2026 MLB Draft looming

The 2026 MLB Draft is upon us, and the Cincinnati Reds will picking 18th in Round 1. The festivities begin at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11, and opinions are scattered on who the Reds will select with their first-round selection.

But before Commissioner Rob Manfred takes the podium on Saturday afternoon, let's take a look back at the five most recent drafts and put a grade on the Reds' first-round picks. Several of the players Cincinnati selected in Round 1 have already made their impact felt in the big leagues, while others are still toiling away in the minors.

Did the Reds get a passing grade for any of their recent draft picks? Let's take a look.

Grading the Reds' last 5 first-round picks ahead of the 2026 MLB Draft

Steele Hall has played all of 48 games as a professional baseball player, so it's difficult to offer any sort of meaningful grade. But given how well the 18-year-old has performed since making his debut for the ACL Reds, it's easy to see why the Reds were so high on him during last year's draft. Hall is hitting .301/.399/.570 and has shown tremendous (albeit unexpected) power as well with 10 home runs this season.

Chase Burns has quickly replaced Hunter Greene as the Reds' ace and is on his way to the All-Star Game this season. He's made 18 starts in 2026 while covering 102⅔ innings and has struck out 28.6% of the batters he's faced. He'll likely be shut down at some point later this season, or have his innings severely limited during the second-half. Nevertheless, the Reds have to like what they've seen from their future star.

Rhett Lowder battled injuries last season and was recently relegated to the bullpen, but there's still a lot to like about the Wake Forest product. If Lowder can regain the command and control that allowed him to breeze through the minor leagues in 2024, the Reds may have a key piece of their starting rotation for years to come.

Ty Floyd has been plagued by injuries since he joined the Reds' organization in 2023. He's logged less than 50 innings since making his professional debut, and spent about a month on the injured list earlier this season. The right-hander has yet to pitch above High-A, and given his track record, one has wonder if Floyd will ever make it to the big leagues.

Cam Collier battled injuries in 2025, and while he's still loaded with potential, the bat has let him down this season. Collier's hitting just .220/.313/.401, but his 12 round trippers in 2026 would seem to indicate that his power has returned after undergoing wrist surgery last season. The Reds have an interesting decision to make later this winter. Collier becomes Rule 5 eligible in December, and Cincinnati's brass will have to decide whether or not to add him to the 40-man roster.

Sal Stewart is locked in a battle with St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt for NL Rookie of the Year honors. The Reds' young slugger leads the team in home runs (19) and RBI (64), just earned a trip to the All-Star Game during his rookie season, and looks to be a cornerstone of the franchise moving forward.

Matt McLain was in line to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, but has been a shell of that player ever since. The Reds are now experimenting with him in center field, while Edwin Arroyo appears to have usurped his role at second base. Fans are running out of patience with McLain, and he could be non-tendered later this year if he doesn't turn things around during the second half.

Jay Allen II was a tantalizing talent when the Reds' took him with their Compensatory Pick in 2021, but he's failed to live up to the first-round hype. Speed has always been his calling card, as evidenced by his 144 stolen bases across five seasons. Allen's bat has consistently lagged behind, but he's hitting .273/.364/.442 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI at Double-A this season.

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