Fast-rising Reds prospect joins Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts

The Cincinnati Reds have received high marks for this past week's draft. Looking back at the 2021 MLB Draft, the Reds have already seen tremendous production from some of their picks that year.

Shortstop Matt McLain and starting pitcher Andrew Abbott have already joined the big league club and both are making their case for NL Rookie of the Year.

The excitement doesn't end there though, however, as one of the Reds' most promising Day 3 selections from the 2021 MLB Draft is making a quick climb through the Cincinnati farm system.

Fast-rising Reds prospect Julian Aguiar joins Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.

Julian Aguiar has come out of nowhere in 2023. Bursting on the scene with consistency in all 14 of his starts this season, the Cypress College product has kept hits to a premium by allowing an opposing batting average of just .174 so far on the season.

The Reds appear be taking their time with Aguiar, and with good reason. The right-hander has yet to go more than six innings in a game this season, and has yet to throw 100 or more. Still, Aguiar was 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA at High-A Dayton.

Aguiar was an infielder in high school, and in 2020 when he made the switch to become a full-time pitcher. Currently ranked among the Top 30 Reds prospects according to MLB Pipeline, Aguiar didn't even make FanGraph's preseason list of the team's top 46 prospects.

Julian Aguiar will now join the likes of Lyon Richardson, Sam Benschoter, and Joe Boyle at Double-A Chattanooga. Aguiar has maintained a 50-plus percent ground ball-rate throughout his minor league career, so the 22-year-old will likely thrive in the pitcher-friendly Southern League.