Jake Fraley DFA sparks Reds prospect buzz, but a call-up would be a mistake

The Cincinnati Reds surprisingly designated Jake Fraley for assignment over the weekend. The outfielder became little more than a defensive replacement over the past couple of weeks, and based on Sunday's comments from manager Terry Francona, it appeared as though both the Reds and Fraley were looking for a change.

Unsurprisingly, the move sparked buzz among the Reds fanbase that top prospect Sal Stewart may soon be on the way to Cincinnati. Will Benson was called up on Sunday to fill the vacancy on the active roster, but Fraley's departure opens up a spot on the 40-man.

While Stewart could receive a call-up — perhaps even before September 1 — there's another young Reds prospect who should stay put for the rest of the 2025 season. Hector Rodriguez, who was promoted to Triple-A along with Stewart last month, should remain in the minors until at least next season.

Jake Fraley DFA sparks Reds prospect buzz, but a calling up Hector Rodrgiuez would be a mistake

Both Stewart and Rodriguez were mashing at Double-A Chattanooga earlier this season, and their performance triggered an in-season promotion to Triple-A Louisville. While Rodriguez has played well since his arrival in the Derby City, since the calendar has flipped to August, he's experienced a downturn in production.

Rodriguez made his Triple-A debut on July 13, and through his first 12 games, hit .370/.463/.522 with a 164 wRC+. Since August 1, however, Rodriguez has cooled off and is hitting .268/.281/.429 with an 82 wRC+ over his last 13 games with the Louisville Bats.

Stewart, on the other hand, has continued his onslaught since joining the Triple-A squad. The 21-year-old is hitting .324/.397/.627 with a 164 wRC+ since his promotion. While he's not expected to join the Reds on their current West Coast road trip, the results over the next 10 days could greatly influence how Cincinnati handles Stewart over the final few weeks of the 2025 season.

Reds fans are excited to see the up-and-coming talent make their way to the major leagues, but only one of Cincinnati's young bats deserves a call-up to the bigs, and that's Sal Stewart.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors