Carson Spiers' valiant performance won't be enough to stave off top Reds prospects

The Cincinnati Reds came into 2024 with high expectations after a promising 2023 season, but things haven’t gone their way. While some players have underperformed, there have been quite a few bright spots. Pitcher Carson Spiers, who joined the active roster in mid-May, has been a pleasant surprise for the scuffling Reds.

The 26-year-old rookie is 4-4 on the year with a 4.55 ERA in 65.1 innings for Cincy. He’s served as both a starter and long reliever at times, providing some much needed flexibility within the pitching staff. Spiers has struggled over his last two starts since the calendar flipped to August, giving up 11 earned runs in losses to the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Prior to those two games, the former Clemson Tiger was 4-2 with an impressive 3.45 ERA over 52 innings pitched. A year ago, Spiers made his MLB debut after pitching well at Double-A, but his long-term future has always been murky. Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo have cemented themselves as quality MLB pitchers while Graham Ashcraft and Brandon Williamson have shown flashes of potential to be solid starters.

Carson Spiers' valiant performance won't be enough to stave off top Reds prospects

Spiers' valiant performance this season is enough to keep him in the rotation and perhaps give him an opportunity heading into next season, but it’s not going to be enough to stave off the likes of top prospects Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns. 

Lowder, the No. 1 prospect for the organization, is currently dominating at Double-A and is now already knocking on the door of the major leagues. The 2023 first-rounder has allowed just one run over his last four starts while striking out 19 batters. He’s four years younger than Spiers with a limitless upside.

The Reds surprised the baseball world last month when they selected Chase Burns with the second overall pick. While Burns isn’t going to pitch this season after a full collegiate season at Wake Forest this past spring, the right-hander could be on a fast-track to the big leagues much like Paul Skenes was this year. 

Burns and Lowder aren’t only pitching prospects looming either. Connor Phillips, Chase Petty, Julian Aguiar, and Ty Floyd are all approaching the MLB level and ranked among the Reds’ top 20 prospects according to MLB Pipeline.

Spiers is having a great season and providing Cincinnati with even more pitching depth, but his success is not going to stop the onslaught of great young pitchers from surging towards the major leagues. While his long-term future with the Reds remains murky, his flexibility as a swingman provides some value that could keep him on the roster for a few years — provided his current success continues.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors