MLB Pipeline may have just revealed the Reds draft target nobody expected

The Reds seem to have two modes when it comes to the draft: prep infielders or college arms. Steele Hall, Sal Stewart, and Matt McLain fall into the former category. Rhett Lowder, Ty Floyd, and Chase Burns make up the latter. In looking forward to the 2026 draft, MLB insiders predict that Cincinnati will go back to the pitching market and may find a sweet deal.

For the second time in a row, MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo predicted that right-hander Cameron Flukey will fall to the Reds at No. 18. The Coastal Carolina pitcher is considered by some as the top college arm in the class despite injuries, and if Cincinnati manages to snag him it would be quite a coup. The pick could usher in a new era of Reds prospect development.

Latest MLB Pipeline mock draft has the Reds stumbling into a top college arm

Baseball America has Flukey ranked as the 13th-best prospect in the class while MLB Pipeline puts him at No. 11. That means if he tumbles to the Reds in the back half of the first round, they could be getting a steal. Two factors could play in Cincinnati’s favor here: Flukey pitched just 24 innings as a junior due to a rib injury, and he recently entered the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag. In other words, he seems to have set his sights on a select few programs, including South Carolina where Coastal Carolina’s coach just took the manager job.

Prior to his injury, Flukey demonstrated the ability to shoulder the load as a starter. As a sophomore, he logged more than 100 innings and posted a 24:118 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Like Burns, Flukey can tap into high-90s velocity, and his 6-foot-6 frame could indicate further growth in the years to come.

Many of the Reds’ top pitching prospects have cracked the majors in the past year or two, making Flukey a strong choice to replenish the farm system. The team may be cautious, though, because of its experience with Ty Floyd, another top college arm who lost significant time due to injury. Flukey seems to be a high-risk, high-reward option for the Reds, but with the manner in which they've developed arms over the last few years, fans might be inclined to trust the front office's process here.

Now if only the Reds can supplement all that young talent with meaningful free agent additions ...

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