This 19-year-old Reds prospect has hit the ground running

Jay Allen II has wheels and he's not afraid to use them. The Cincinnati Reds 2021 first-round draft pick has used his speed to record two triples and nine stolen bases in just 10 games with the Dayton Dragons.

Allen was promoted from Low-A Daytona to High-A Dayton earlier this month, and the 19-year-old has hit the ground running. Prior to being elevated to the Dragons roster, Allen II had swiped 31 bags while playing for the Daytona Tortugas and was only caught six times.

That 83.7% success-rate will translate very well to the major leagues if Allen II continue to get solid reads and use his speed to his advantage. While playing in the Arizona Complex League in 2021, Allen II swiped 14 bags and was only thrown out once.

Reds prospect Jay Allen II has hit the ground running with the Dayton Dragons.

Jay Allen II had played 73 games at Low-A Daytona earlier this year. While there, the 19-year-old slashed .224/.359/.332 with a wRC+ of 108 according to FanGraphs. Perhaps the most impressive stat during the outfielder's time with the Tortugas was his 13.4% walk-rate.

Allen II has above-average speed. Of his 40 stolen bases on the season, 23 have come in just eight games. This includes five stolen bases that Allen II recorded during a four-hit performance earlier this week.

Allen II was a three-sport athlete in high school, but the allure of Major League Baseball and a $2.4M signing bonus as the Cincinnati Reds' supplemental pick was enough to pull him away from his commitment to the University of Florida. The Reds received that pick as compensation for losing Trevor Bauer to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency two years ago.

Jay Allen II probably represents the most well-rounded outfield prospect currently in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. Allen Cerda has a good eye at the plate and tremendous power, but doesn't possess the same hit-tool as Allen II. Both Rece Hinds and Austin Hendrick are power bats, but neither have the top-end speed of Allen II.

But don't get too excited. While MLB Pipeline rates Jay Allen II as the team's No. 12 prospect, the outlet does not project him to make his major league debut until 2025. Next year will be key in the young prospect's development.