It only took one game for this forgotten Reds prospect to suffer brutal reality check

In a Cincinnati Reds farm system full of pitching talent, Bryce Hubbart is easily overlooked. The lefty was a third-round pick out of Florida State in 2022, ahead of Zach Maxwell and Adam Serwinowski, a key bullpen piece for the Reds and a top prospect now in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system.

Hubbart fell behind his peers, including Maxwell and Serwinowski, due to injuries, but recently made the move up to Triple-A Louisville. He was promoted to Triple-A on June 11, but was quickly sent back down after a horrific performance over the weekend proved that he wasn't ready to face top-tier competition.

Hubbart faced eight batters during his first game at Triple-A. He allowed three runs on four hits across just 1⅓ innings of work. He didn't walk a batter and recorded one strikeout to go along with a wild pitch. That performance had him on a plane back to Double-A the following day.

Forgotten Reds prospect Bryce Hubbart had a short stint in Triple-A

The promotion was a reward for the southpaw’s success and commitment to refinement. He had displayed improved command in 2026, having dropped his BB/9 from 5.7 to 2.0. Hubbart's control is dependent on a knee-buckling sweeper to counteract a low-90s fastball. If he had continued to perform well in Louisville, he may've be a surprise answer to the Reds’ bullpen needs.

Since being drafted, Hubbart has completed more than 50 innings just once and that was before he was converted into a full-time reliever. After his first round of injuries (two stints on the IL in 2023), Hubbart got some extra reps in the Arizona Fall League. He also spent time on the development and temporarily inactive lists, limiting his on-field time.

The Reds have certainly put in the work with Hubbart. He projected as a starter when he was drafted, but the club shifted him to the bullpen as a long reliever. He performs well against hitters on both sides of the plate, but the one knock on Hubbart is that he leans toward being a flyball pitcher, which could burn him at higher levels — especially if he makes it to the major leagues and is pitching at Great American Ball Park.

If Hubbart eventually gets a call to the big leagues, it will be the fulfillment of expectations five years in the making. Hopes were high enough for MLB.com to predict the lefty would quickly rise through the ranks and be the breakout prospect of 2023. (Scroll through the list and you will find him in good company.) Clearly there was once something there that could turn heads. Here’s hoping that spark remains.

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