Reds Prospect Watch: Jay Allen II makes insane catch, Chase Petty racking up Ks

The Minor League Baseball season is in full swing and Reds fans are bound to see some movement down on the farm. The Cincinnati Reds have already called up Jacob Hurtubise, and while that may be the only major league promotion the fanbase sees for a while, a few young prospects could be jumping up a level in the next week or two.

One such player is Sal Stewart. A top draft pick of the Reds in 2022, Stewart has shown tremendous plate discipline this season with a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Stewart is trying his hand at a new position this season as well — second base. In his first 35 games at High-A Dayton, the Reds prospect is hitting .283/.412/.425.

But Stewart may not even be the best performer for the Dayton Dragons this season. While Cam Collier's early-season power surge has seen the former first-round pick get back into the good graces of the scouts and talent evaluators, Jay Allen II has shined both at the plate and in the field.

Reds Prospect Watch: Jay Allen II makes insane catch

Reds fans, if you want a top-notch outfield prospect to keep an eye on, be on the lookout for Allen. A late first-round selection of the Reds in 2021, Allen is finally starting to show off some of that elite-level athleticism that saw him taken with the 30th pick in that year's draft.

Allen is hitting .316/.430/.600 in 26 games for the Dragons this season. The 21-year-old has shown plenty of patience at the dish with 13 free passes on the season, and the power is now showing up in games. Of Allen's 30 hits this season, 12 have gone for extra bases, including seven round trippers.

But that unmatched athleticism was captured during over the weekend when Allen made an unbelievable sliding grab in foul territory to secure the out. The Cincinnati faithful are hopeful that Allen continues to climb the minor league ladder, as the team is starved for top-level outfield talent. Finally healthy, Allen is beginning to put together quite the résumé.

Reds Prospect Watch: Chase Petty racking up Ks

Another Reds prospect who had quite the week was Chase Petty. A former first-round pick — of the Minnesota Twins — in his own right, Petty was firing on all cylinders for the Chattanooga Lookouts.

Petty went 2-0 with 14 strikeouts over 10 innings of work this past week. Petty, who just turned 21 years old last month, allowed just two earned runs and walked a pair of batters in what was easily his best week of the 2024 season.

Petty had his struggles in April (0-2 9.56 ERA). But once the calendar flipped to May, the right-hander has been on fire. There's absolutely no reason for Cincinnati to rush Petty's development, but he may force the Reds' hand. A late-season call-up probably isn't in the cards for Petty, but he could be on a similar trajectory to Connor Phillips.

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