Overlooked Reds prospect emerges on Arizona Fall League roster alongside Edwin Arroyo

The Arizona Fall League is just about ready to start, and the Cincinnati Reds are sending a number of talented young players to the desert next month. The Reds announced recently that Christian Encarnacion-Strand would be heading to Arizona this offseason in order to get in some extra work after missing nearly all of the 2024 season.

Another name that Reds fans will recognize is Edwin Arroyo. There was a good chance that Arroyo could have made his Major League debut this season, but a shoulder injury during spring training forced the young shortstop to undergo season-ending surgery. Arroyo will now be teammates with Encarnacion-Strand as part of the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.

But there are several under-the-radar prospects who'll be joining Arroyo and Encarnacion-Strand, including former third-round pick Tyler Callihan. The 24-year-old was drafted the same year Cincinnati selected Rece Hinds in the second round, and will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason. Oddly enough, Callihan is listed as an outfielder despite spending most of his minor league career on the infield.

Reds prospect Tyler Callihan joins Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Edwin Arroyo on Arizona Fall League roster

Callihan has become a bit of a forgotten man down in the minor leagues. Drafted in 2019, Callihan missed time during the 2020 season when the minor league season was canceled due to the coronavirus. Callihan then missed all but 23 games in 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

This season, Callihan spent most of his time at Double-A Chattanooga, but made it all the way to Triple-A Louisville after being promoted to the Bats' roster last week. Collectively, Callihan hit .276/.359/.429, and could be a sneaky addition to the Reds 40-man roster later this fall.

In addition to Callihan, the Reds are also sending pitchers Jose Acuña, Arij Fransen, Luis Mey, Connor Phillips, and Carson Rudd to the AFL. Acuña was acquired a couple years back in a trade with the New York Mets, and Phillips' disastrous 2024 season included a trip to the Reds' training complex in Arizona.

The AFL has long been a proving ground for young players looking to make their way to the big leagues. The purpose this fall will be a bit different for a few of the Reds players, but Cincinnati is hoping to see improvement across the board from all eight players who'll be playing ball in Arizona next month.

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