Reds outfield prospect appears to be joining Elly De La Cruz in Dominican Winter League

The Cincinnati Reds top infield prospect is already making noise in the Dominican Winter League. It now appears as though one of the club's top outfield prospects will be joining him.

Elly De La Cruz has set the minor league baseball world on fire. The Reds top prospect had tremendous success in 2022 and just won the Dominican Winter League Player of the Week honors after playing just five games in his home country and posting an OPS of 1.191 in his first five games.

It would now appear that De La Cruz's Chattanooga Lookouts' teammate, outfielder Allan Cerda, will be playing alongside him with the Tigres de Licey as well. Cerda posted a new profile pic to his social media account in which the 22-year-old is wearing a Tigres de Licey uniform.

Allan Cerda joining Elly De La Cruz in Dominican Winter League.

Elly De La Cruz received all the hype this past season, and rightfully so. The Cincinnati Reds top prospect put up unbelievable numbers at both High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga and should be added to the team's 40-man roster any day now.

But don't sleep on De La Cruz's teammate Allan Cerda. The outfielder, despite having little experience above A-Ball, was added to the Reds 40-man roster last winter for a reason. Cerda may have the most pop of any bat in the Reds farm system.

Cerda will use his time with the Tigres de Licey this winter to continue to improve. While Cerda's 24 home runs and .444 slugging percentage is very impressive, there's a lot of swing-and-miss to his game. The outfielder struck out 168 times last season.

But, unlike fellow outfield prospect Rece Hinds, Allan Cerda offsets his high strikeout-rate with a high walk-rate as well. His pitch recognition and a keen understanding of the strike zone will go a long way toward moving Cerda up the minor league ladder.

Playing in the Dominican Winter League will do nothing but help Cerda in his pursuit of finding his way to The Show. After being added to the 40-man roster last November and having played 62 games at Double-A in 2022, it's possible that Cerda will begin next season at Triple-A and be on the cusp of making his major league debut in 2023.