5 Reds prospects to watch at High-A Dayton in 2023

The upper-levels of the Cincinnati Reds minor league system is loaded with talent. Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Andrew Abbott are just a few names that will be appearing in both Louisville and Chattanooga this season.

But don't sleep on the talent in the lower-levels of the Reds farm system either. Remember, players like De La Cruz and Abbott began last season at High-A Dayton before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga.

The Reds made a concerted effort to upgrade the talent in their pipeline through trades and the draft. Which top prospects who will likely debut at High-A Dayton in 2023 should Reds fans keep an eye on?

1. Reds prospects to watch at High-A Dayton in 2023: Tyler Callihan

Tyler Callihan has endured some difficult situations since being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in Round 3 of the 2019 MLB Draft. Injuries have stifled any real growth, but Callihan was able to get back onto the field after Tommy John surgery shelved the infield for the better part of a year.

Callihan is bat-first infielder without any real defined position. The 22-year-old has a smooth swing, and while he doesn't possess elite power, Callihan has enough pop in his bat to reach double-digit home runs.

If Callihan enters the 2023 fully healthy, then perhaps he'll reach his ceiling and begin to climb up the minor league ladder. While he has seen time at both second and third base, Callihan is not going to wow you with his glove.

The Cincinnati Reds have a right-handed version of Tyler Callihan on the team right now in the form of Spencer Steer. Callihan could serve a similar role to Steer if he's able to stay on the field during the upcoming season. After receiving fewer than 250 at-bats with the Dayton Dragons in 2022, it's a goof bet that Callihan returns to High-A to begin 2023.

2. Reds prospects to watch at High-A Dayton in 2023: Logan Tanner

The Cincinnati Reds really need one of the catching prospects to develop into a major league-caliber starter. Their best chance for that may lie with former Mississippi State backstop Logan Tanner. The Redlegs selected Tanner with their second-round pick a year ago.

Tanner is known more for his bat than his glove, but he is more than capable of holding down the catcher's spot over the long haul. He may not have the best arm, but the 22-year-old's receiving skills are good enough and he's not afraid to get down a block a wild pitch.

The Reds are at a crossroads with their current crop of catchers. Tyler Stephenson spent three separate stints on the IL in 2022 and the Reds QB1 heads into this season with more of a platoon role. Stephenson will see time behind the plate, but also at first base and DH.

Looking up and down the Reds farm system, Tanner represents the best possible replacement for Stephenson if the Reds decide to make his move to first base permanent. Cincinnati also has Daniel Vellojin and Mat Nelson in the pipeline, but neither has stepped up and grabbed the bull by the horns at this point in their professional careers.

Logan Tanner played just 16 games at Low-A Daytona in 2022, so the possibility exists that he'll head back to Florida at the outset of the 2023 season. Tanner has the pedigree to be a starting catcher at the major league level, but he'll need to prove himself in High-A first.

3. Reds prospects to watch at High-A Dayton in 2023: Chase Petty

It sounds as if there are some injury concerns with Chase Petty to begin the season. The Cincinnati Reds plan to keep the pitching prospect in Arizona after the teams breaks and heads north. Hopefully, the elbow issues that Petty is dealing with are minimal and this is just precautionary.

If it is, then get ready to watch one of the Reds top prospects take off in 2023. The Reds acquired Petty from the Minnesota Twins prior to last season. In return, Cincinnati shipped Sonny Gray to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Petty was known as a fire-baller coming out of high school, which led to the Twins taking him with their first-round pick in 2021. But last season saw Petty take a deeper look into his repertoire with an eye toward becoming a pitcher rather than just a thrower.

Some critics will point to Petty's lack of strikeouts in 2022, and there's merit to that argument. But the one things that really stuck out was the small number of walks issued from a 19-year-old hurler that can touch 100-plus on the radar gun.

In 20 starts, Chase Petty kept his walk-rate below 8.0-percent. That extremely encouraging for such a young hurler, and if the right-hander is able to command his secondary pitches, Petty could be a frontline starter within the next few years.

4. Reds prospects to watch at High-A Dayton in 2023: Edwin Arroyo

Edwin Arroyo could be the most exciting Cincinnati Reds prospect to watch in 2023. After arriving in late-July as part of the Luis Castillo trade, Arroyo didn't have the same success with Low-A Dayton as he did in the Seattle Mariners' farm system.

But, look for that to change in 2023. Arroyo now has more familiarity with his new organization and coaching staff, and the 19-year-old should be the unquestioned starter at shortstop for the Dayton Dragons this season.

Arroyo spent 87 games with the Mariners Low-A affiliate in 2022 before finishing his season with the Daytona Tortugas. Having played over 100 games and registering over 500 plate appearances in Low-A, it's time for Arroyo to make the jump.

Arroyo may be the best player to come out of Cincinnati's trade deadline deal with Seattle. The slick-fielding shortstop is a polished defender who can hit from both sides of the plate with power. Arroyo smacked 14 homers in 2022.

According to MLB Pipeline, Edwin Arroyo is the Cincinnati Reds No. 3 prospect and ranks 44th in all of baseball. With so many talented shortstops already in the organization, there's not need to rush Arroyo through the farm system, and the Reds don't have to add him to the 40-man roster until 2025.