3 prospects the Reds should rush to the majors in 2022

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The Cincinnati Reds have improved their farm system by leaps and bounds over the past few seasons. The team saw the fruits of their labor with the impressive debuts of Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, and Vladimir Gutierrez in 2021.

Both Indian and Stephenson, mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic, skipped playing at Triple-A and made the jump to the big leagues. Jose Barrero, who debuted in 2020, returned to the minors in 2021 in order to get some more reps before earning a spot on the team near the end of last season.

The typical ascension for most minor leaguers is to spend time at Low-A before receiving a promotion to High-A. Once prospects have shown improvement, teams typically promote their young talent to Double-A before finally sending them to Triple-A to apply the finishing touches.

But on occasion, it becomes painfully obvious that certain players don't need as much time in the minor leagues as others. Former Reds pitcher Mike Leake, for example, was drafted in 2009 and made his MLB debut in 2010. Which young prospects should Cincinnati fast-track to the big leagues in 2022?

1. Andrew Abbott, Reds LHP prospect

I've spoken once before about the need to fast-track Andrew Abbott to the big leagues, and I stand by that. The 22-year-old was selected by the Reds in the second-round of last year's draft. Abbott was a dominant reliever for the Virginia Cavaliers, and though he was a starter in Charlottesville last season.

During his first three seasons for the 'Hoos, Abbott appeared in 57 games out of the bullpen and struck out 165 batters over 108.1 innings of work. Abbott went 9-6 last season for the Cavaliers and posted a 2.87 ERA.

Abbott threw 11 innings at Low-A Daytona last season and recorded a 15.55 K/9 and 38.8% strikeout-rate. Abbott's fastball/ curveball combination could work well out of the Reds bullpen in 2022, and Cincinnati could always look to develop him as a starter further down the line. The Chicago White Sox are taking that type of approach with former first-round pick Garrett Crochet.

A Reds hat lay on the side of the Cincinnati dugout. / Kirk Irwin/GettyImages

2. Thomas Farr, Reds RHP prospect

I don't know that we should expect to see Thomas Farr make his major league debut in 2022, but there's a good chance the right-hander could rocket through the Reds farm system next season. Farr was taken in the fifth-round of last year's draft and has an outside chance to make the team toward the tail end of next season if he's viewed as a reliever.

The former South Carolina Gamecock signed for nearly $300K after being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds last summer. Farr was arguably the ace of the South Carolina pitching staff, posting a 3.87 ERA in 15 starts and striking out 90 batters over 83.2 innings.

Farr works his fastball in the mid-90s, though he can approach 96-97 MPH. The right-hander also has a curveball that can be effective and he'll work in a changeup as well. Farr's development will depend on whether or not he can use the changeup as an effective third pitch.

Thomas Farr already saw time in both Low-A and High-A last season, going 10 innings and posting a 0.90 ERA. Will the team start Farr at High-A Dayton to begin the 2022 season, or will we see the 22-year-old debut with the Chattanooga Lookouts next season.

Farr has a nice repertoire, and is already a bit advanced in age. Will the Reds be patient enough with Farr to allow him to develop as a starter, or will Cincinnati's front office push the young man along to become part of the relief corps in the future? We'll have to wait and see.

The hat and glove of Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) wait in the dugout. / Sam Greene via Imagn Content Services,

3. Michael Siani, Reds OF prospect

No position player in the Cincinnati Reds farm system may have been more negatively affected by the lack of a minor league season in 2020 than Michael Siani. The former fourth-round pick struggled at the dish again in 2021, but made great strides in the Arizona Fall League.

Siani played in 14 games for the Surprise Saguaros in the AFL and hit .300/.451/.450 with three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs while also drawing 10 free passes and swiping 10 bases. That's a far cry from the .648 OPS he posted in 97 games with High-A Dayton last season.

Siani's glove was major league ready the day he was drafted. Siani's speed and defense set him apart from every other prospect in the Cincinnati farm system. There's not a single prospect in the Reds organization that can cover as much ground in the outfield.

The problem with Siani has always been his bat. In three minor league seasons, the 22-year-old has hit just .247/.332/.343. That career-OPS of .648 has to improve in order for Siani to make the leap to the majors, but if the strides he made in the Arizona Fall League can carry over to next season, don't sleep on Siani's ability to find his way onto the Reds roster by season's end.

Michael Siani should start next season at Double-A Chattanooga, and if his bat plays, the centerfielder could follow a similar path to Jose Barrero's. The Reds top shortstop prospect dominated at both levels last season and received a promotion to the bigs in August.

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Center field is easily the thinnest position in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. Allan Cerda, who was recently promoted to the team's 40-man roster, has a chance to stick in center field, but again, no one offers the elite-level of defense that Siani does.

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