2 unprotected Reds prospects who could be selected in the Rule 5 Draft and 1 who won't

The Cincinnati Reds selected six prospects on Tuesday night to add to the team's 40-man roster. Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Brandon Williamson, Levi Stoudt, Ricky Karcher, and Lyon Richardson are now ineligible for next month's Rule 5 Draft.

There really weren't any surprises among the six players selected, though Richardson has yet to pitch above A-Ball. Still, the right-hander has tremendous upside, and the Reds chose to protect the former second-round pick.

Still, there are a handful of players who were not added to Cincinnati's 40-man roster and thus will be subject to the Rule 5 Draft. Which two prospects could be selected in the Rule 5 Draft, and which prospect is likely to remain in the Cincinnati Reds organization?

Reds OF prospect TJ Hopkins could be selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

Given the lack of depth in the Cincinnati Reds outfield, it was mildly surprising to see TJ Hopkins' name left off the 40-man roster. A former ninth-round draft pick back 2019, Hopkins displayed huge power while playing in both Double-A and Triple-A.

Hopkins slashed .259/.333/.458 with 21 round trippers and 68 runs batted in to go along with a wRC+ of 107 in 126 games played last season. Hopkins would offer versatility, as the right-handed hitting slugger can play all three outfield positions.

However, the Cincinnati Reds really seemed impressed with the numbers that former second-round pick Stuart Fairchild put up in a small sample size during his time with the ball club over the second-half of last season.

There's a chance that TJ Hopkins coul survive and return to the Reds in 2023. If that happens, you can bet that the 25-year-old will receive an invite to big league camp next spring. But after the power displayed last season, there might be a team or two who'll take a flier on Hopkins during the Rule 5 Draft.