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3 Reds prospects who will make their major league debut in 2024

The Cincinnati Reds have seen an influx of talent this season, but what about next year?

By Drew Koch |
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Rece Hinds
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Rece Hinds / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY
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The Cincinnati Reds 2023 season will be remembered as the year when Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, Andrew Abbott, and Noelvi Marte all made their major league debuts.

Throw in Brandon Williamson and Lyon Richardson, and the Reds have seen so many young and talented prospects emerge as key pieces for the team's future.

But who's next? While there's only so many roster spots to go around, there are even more prospects down on the farm who are hungry to make an impact in the big leagues. Which three prospects will make their major league debut in 2024?

1. Reds prospect Blake Dunn will make his major league debut in 2024.

If you haven't yet heard of Blake Dunn, you will. The Western Michigan alum was a 15th-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds back in 2021. With tremendous combination of speed and power, it's only a matter of time before Dunn makes his way to the big leagues.

Dunn has made the jump from High-A to Double-A already this season and will likely begin next season at the Triple-A level. Think of Dunn in the same mold as Matt McLain; a polished young prospect who just seems to excell at every level.

Dunn is a bit older than most prospects, which is another reason that Reds fans will likely see him debut next season. Dunn will turn 25 next month, which isn't all that old for baseball players, but both Noelvi Marte and Elly De La Cruz are only 21 years old.

Blake Dunn could be that perfect right-handed hitting outfielder to platoon with either Will Benson or Jake Fraley in 2024. Most Reds fans would agree that finding a right-handed hitting power bat should be atop the team's wishlist this offseason.

But without a big name in the free agent pool, the Reds would have to entertain a trade. Instead, don't be shocked if Blake Dunn actually breaks camp with the Cincinnati Reds next spring. Though the more likely scenario is that he'll get his feet wet in Triple-A and make his big league debut sometime around June or July.

2. Reds prospect Rece Hinds will make his major league debut in 2024.

It's been a long and winding road for Rece Hinds, but the slugger is zeroing in on a call-up to the big leagues. While the Cincinnati Reds second-round pick in 2019 will have to prove it at the highest level in the minor leagues, Hinds showed what he's capable of with a bounce-back season in 2023.

Hinds began his Reds career as a third basemna, but the team decided they'd be better off if the hard-hitting prospect made the move to the outfield. That's been Hinds' home since 2021 and he's fared quite well since making the switch.

Quite frankly, it wasn't the defense that was Hinds' biggest problem. It was the strikeouts. Last season, Hinds went down swinging over 40-percent of the time while splitting time between Low-A Daytona and High-A Dayton.

But that number has come down quite a bit since Rece Hinds made the jump to Double-A this season. In over 90 games with the Chattanooga Lookouts this season, Hinds has lowered his strikeout-rate to a more respectable 33.3-percent. While that's still high, his .565 slugging percentage helps to make up for it.

Once again, the Reds need a right-handed hitting power-bat who can play the outfield. A platoon of Hinds, Blake Dunn, TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, and Will Benson could be on the way in 2024. Get ready, Reds fans.

3. Reds prospect Connor Phillips will make his major league debut in 2024.

While it shouldn't be ruled that Connor Phillips will make his major league debut in 2023, it seems much more likely that the former Seattle Mariners farmhand will make it to The Show in 2024.

Phillips was utterly dominant down at Double-A Chattanooga earlier this season. The right-hander was dispatching of the opposition left and right and it became apparent to the Reds minor league coaches and development staff that a jump to Triple-A was necessary.

The leap in competition has proven to be more difficult for Phillips, which is to be expected. But more than anything, it's been his command and control that has suffered. According to FanGraphs, Phillips has 19.2-percent walk-rate at Triple-A and 7.64 walks per nine innings pitched.

Those numbers will have to improve before Connor Phillips is given a chance at the major league level. The fact that the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation looks to be set going into next season may also delay Phillips' big league debut.

Currently, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, Brandon Williamson, and Andrew Abbott would appear to be the Reds starting rotation heading into 2024. But Connor Phillips is likely the next man up and will surely get his chance next season.

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