1 Reds prospect that will be a star, 1 that won't, and 1 that will just be serviceable

Reds prospect Rece Hinds will not be a star in the major leagues

This is a prediction that will hopefully blow up in my face. But the fact of the matter is that Rece Hinds strikes out, and he strikes out a lot. Now, when he connects, the ball has a good chance to leave the stadium. Such is the life of a power-hitter.

Hinds made strides in 2023, and he needs to be credited for that. There was chance that Hinds would be left unprotected from this year's Rule 5 Draft. That ship has sailed, and the improvements that Hinds has made will see him join the Reds 40-man roster later next month.

But, the former second-round pick has a long way to go until he's ready for the big leagues. Reds fans saw Elly De La Cruz, who has a similar power-profile to Hinds, burst onto the scene in 2023. However, opposing pitchers quickly found the hole in De La Cruz's swing and exploited it.

The 23-year-old possesses ridiculous power. Hinds smashed 23 home runs and 98 RBI in 2023. But, that came with a 32.8-percent strikeout-rate in Double-A. Hinds will not be able to strikeout once every three at-bats and maintain a spot on a major league roster.

Rece Hinds has the tools to be a major league player, but if he doesn't fix the swings and misses, he'll never become a star. Another year of seasoning in the minors would do Hinds well, and with serviceable depth in the Reds outfield, there's no need to rush him to the majors.