Dominant fall league performance could thrust this prospect into the Reds bullpen

The Arizona Fall League typically offers an opportunity for young players to improve their standing within an organization while getting some extra work during the early stages of the offseason.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Carson Spiers has taken full advantage of the opportunity, and his AFL performance will certainly get the right-hander a longer look once spring training commences.

Spiers made his big league debut this past season despite never stepping onto a Triple-A mound. The 25-year-old showed poised during his first couple of outings, and that has translated over to the Arizona Fall League.

Dominant fall league performance could thrust this prospect into the Reds bullpen

Carson Spiers spent almost the entire 2023 down on the farm at Double-A Chattanooga. An undrafted free agent pitcher out of Clemson, Spiers went 8-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 28 appearances for the Chattanooga Lookouts last season.

While Spiers made two emergency starts for the Reds after an illness swept through the clubhouse, the majority of his time in the minors came in relief. However, by the end of June, Spiers had become one of the Lookouts top starters.

Spiers has started four games in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Sanguaros this year. Spiers is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 16 punch outs in 14 innings pitched while issuing just one walk.

With so many young pitchers in the Cincinnati Reds organization, Carson Spiers best opportunity may come as a reliever. Though very teams employ bullpen pitchers who can go more than one inning, Spiers certainly offers that type of profile.

Of his 22 relief appearances in the minor leagues, 15 saw the right-hander go more than one inning/. Spiers posted an ERA of 3.59 in relief while that number jumped to 4.47 as a starter.

Cincinnati would appear to have three spots in the starting rotation already spoken for. Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Nick Lodolo can all lay claim to a spot in the 2024 Reds rotation.

However, there are other young pitchers like Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson, and Connor Phillips who'll be looking for their opportunity as well. And that list doesn't even include any potential additions to the starting rotation through trades or free agency.

Carson Spiers has done nothing to hurt his standing with the Cincinnati Reds during his time in the desert. Whether he'll be a depth option down at Triple-A or join David Bell's bullpen, look for Spiers to see plenty of time in the majors next season.