3 prospects the Reds should rush to the majors in 2022

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.

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.