Reds Prospect News: Sammy Stafura promoted, 2023 draft-and-follow signed, Chase Petty

It was an eventual week for a number of prospects within the Cincinnati Reds farm system. Sunday was a big day for the Dayton Dragons as the Reds' High-A affiliate hung 15 runs on the Quad City River Bandits.

The Dragons received four home runs from some of the Reds top prospects. Carlos Jorge, Cam Collier, Sal Stewart, and Victor Acosta all took one over the fence on Sunday afternoon at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa.

The Daytona Tortugas, the Reds' Low-A affiliate, added another one of Cincinnati's top prospects to the roster this week after last year's draft pick Sammy Stafura was promoted from the ACL Reds to Low-A Daytona.

Reds Prospect News: Sammy Stafura promoted to Low-A Daytona Tortugas

Stafura was taken with the 43rd-overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft and is currently ranked as the Reds 15th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Stafura played a dozen games with the ACL Reds last season and hit just .071/.212/.190 with a pair of doubles and a home run.

Stafura began his 2024 campaign in the Arizona Complex League this season, but after 15 games, the Reds talent evaluators have seen enough. Stafura hit .345/.449/.582 with seven extra-base hits with the ACL Reds this spring and is deservedly receiving a promotion to the next level.

Reds Prospect News: Cincy signs two draft-and-follows from 2023 MLB Draft

What is a a draft-and-follow? That's a great question, as it does not come up often. The new collective bargaining agreement allows teams to select junior college players and maintain their draft rights through the follow year's draft.

The Reds, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com, signed two such players this past week after agreeing to terms with shortstop JeanPierre Ortiz and right-hander Drew Pestka. Ortiz was taken in the 17th round of the 2023 MLB Draft while Pestka, who just turned 20 years old, was selected one round later last July.

Reds Prospect News: Chase Petty couldn't get out of the 1st inning

A lot was expected from Chase Petty this season following a tremendous showing in 2023. But the 2024 season has been rather unkind to the right-hander. Last Saturday, Petty got shelled early and often. The 21-year-old gave up six runs — four of them earned — and exited after throwing 31 pitches in just one-third of an inning. Yikes!

Petty will surely be itching to get back to the mound this week. The former Minnesota Twins farmhand should be back on the bump for the Chattanooga Lookouts on Thursday.

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