2 Reds prospects inching closer to the major leagues after promotion and 1 with a lot to prove

The Cincinnati Reds, in an effort to get many of their young prospects more playing time, made several transactions over the past couple of days.

With the A-Ball circuit done for the 2023 season, players like infielder Nick Northcutt, catcher Cade Hunter, and outfielder Allan Cerda, among others, received a bump in competition.

Among those players receiveing a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga was a pair of players who are very close to making the jump to The Show. There's also another Reds prospect who'll need a lot more seasoning in the minors.

Reds prospect Jacob Heatherly is inching closer to his major league debut.

Jacob Heatherly was added to the Chattanooga Lookouts roster this past week after spending the 2023 season split between Low-A Daytona and High-A Dayton. Heatherly was drafted all the way back in 2017, so why has it taken the left-hander so long just to make the jump to Double-A?

Heatherly has endured a multitude of injuries since being drafted, and until this season, had been utilized most often as a starter. This season, however, the Reds adjusted the plan and Heatherly has been operating out of the bullpen all season.

Heatherly was 6-4 during his time with the Daytona Tortugas and Dayton Dragons and owned a 2.76 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 49 innings of work. That's an impressive 15.43 strikeouts per nine innings. If Heatherly is able to continue that type of dominance in Double-A, it might not be long before the southpaw find his way to the big leagues.

A left-handed reliever with a batting average against of just .137 and a 65-plus percent ground ball-rate would be the type of player that both manager David Bell and pitching coach Derek Johnson would love to have in the bullpen next season. Keep you eye on Jacob Heatherly.