Cincinnati Reds prospects report: Noelvi Marte is catching fire at Double-A Chattanooga

Those three names that have become synonymous with mashing down at Triple-A were back at it once again last week. While it was Derby Week in the Bluegrass State, there was a hit parade down the street at Slugger Field for the Louisville Bats.

The Chattanooga Lookouts have seen another top Cincinnati Reds prospect begin to blossom in Double-A, while a former third-round draft pick was flexing his muscles up the road in Dayton. Let's look at how some of the top talent in the Reds farm system fared this past week.

Reds prospects at Triple-A Louisville

It may have taken him a little longer than expected, but the Cincinnati Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz is heatnig up. This past week, De La Cruz slashed .345/.345/.612 with a pair of doubles and two round trippers.

Not to be outdone, Matt McLain hit for the cycle and posted an OPS 1.403 while recording 11 RBIs. Fellow infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand also launched three home runs, including one that bounced off the scoreboard in a game against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

Reds prospects at Double-A Chattanooga

Noelvi Marte showed why the Cincinnati Reds were adamant about including the infield prospect in last summer's trade with the Seattle Mariners for Luis Castillo. Marte hit four home runs last week and racked up 11 RBIs while posting a .958 slugging percentage.

Connor Phillips put up some good numbers during his two starts for the Lookouts last week, but Christian Roa was equally impressive. While he allowed five walks, the former second-round pick allowed just one hit while striking out 10 batters in five innings.

Reds prospects at High-A Dayton

Tyler Callihan, whom the Reds selected in Round 3 of the 2019 MLB Draft, was swinging a hot bat this past week for the Dayton Dragons. Callihan recorded four doubles and two home runs while posting a team-high OPS of 1.266 last week.

Jose Acuña, whom the Cincinnati Reds acquired in last year's trade with the New York Mets for Tyler Naquin, had a great week. The right-hander went five innings and recorded nine punch outs while allowing just one run on two hits. Acuña didn't walk a single batter. That trade continues to look better and better for the Reds.

Reds prospects at Low-A Daytona

It was an off-week for most of the Reds prospects down at Low-A Daytona. Sal Stewart, Cam Collier, and Victor Acosta all struggled. However, the other piece of that trade with the New York Mets (Hector Rodriguez) went 6-for-21 with a pair of homers last week for the Tortugas.

Joseph Menefee, the Reds 20th-round pick in last year's draft, had a solid week. The southpaw made two relief appearances and struck out nine batters in less than six innings. Menefee did issue three free passes, however.