This Cincinnati Reds prospect could skyrocket up the farm system if fully healthy

The Cincinnati Reds have some elite-level pitching talent in their farm system, but little attention has been paid to some of their elite hitters. While Tyler Callihan missed the majority of the 2021 season following elbow surgery, the 21-year-old could skyrocket through the Reds minor leagues if he's fully healthy.

Callihan played just 23 games for Low-A Daytona last season before being sidelined with an elbow injury. Callihan required Tommy John surgery, but the hope is that the former third-round pick is ready to play ball this spring.

Tyler Callihan could skyrocket through the Reds farm system.

Tyler Callihan, a former South Carolina commit, can flat out hit the baseball. During his first professional season, the left-handed hitting infielder slashed .263/.298/.442 and put a wRC+ of 99. After the coronavirus pandemic shutdown minor league baseball in 2020, Callihan returned to the diamond last season and hit .299/.351/.437 with a wRC+ of 113.

One has to wonder if that production would have continued had Callihan not suffered an elbow injury in early June. Given how he'd improved from his first season in the Reds farm system to last year, you'd have to assume Callihan would've been bumped up to High-A Dayton at some point last season. If healthy, it's a good bet that he'll begin the 2022 season with the Dragons.

Tyler Callihan is a contact hitter. He posted just a 13.1% strikeout-rate last season prior to the injury and has the ability to spray the ball all over the field. If Callihan is able to tap into that raw power that he possesses, the Florida native has the ability to be a fixture in the Cincinnati lineup in the future.

Some questions remain about where Callihan will wind up defensively. A few scouts think he can play third base, while others tab him as a second baseman. If he can become a power-hitter, first base could be an option as well. With the DH coming to the National League, the option exists for Callihan to just be a big-time bat in the Reds lineup as well.

The sky is the limit for Callihan, but only if he's fully healthy will he hurdle through the Cincinnati farm system this summer. The bat-first infielder is loaded with potential, so let's hope that Callihan's rehab allows him to find the field early in 2022.