Reds farm system is quietly hiding the answer to their biggest roster dilemma

The Athletic (subscription required) released its All-Under-25 Team, and the Cincinnati Reds were well represented. For the most part, at least. In the infield, Elly De La Cruz got the nod, and Sal Stewart earned an honorable mention as his hot spring has put him firmly in the NL Rookie of the Year conversation.

On the pitching side of things, Chase Burns was selected as a bullpen piece, though in the eyes of Reds fans, his eventual home is in the starting rotation, even if that's a shared duty for the time being. Connor Phillips also earned an honorable mention as a reliever. That's to say nothing of Rhett Lowder and other young arms that could join that mix eventually, too.

However, the outfield is a different beast. Noelvi Marte meets the age criteria, but his uneven big league track record and questionable 2026 outlook have him firmly on the outside of these rankings. The rest of Cincinnati's big league outfield equation consists of some solid but unspectacular veterans. Eventually, the club could use an impact youngster there, and they might just have one waiting in the wings in Hector Rodriguez.

Hector Rodriguez could revitalize the Reds' outfield

The Reds' No. 6 prospect, Rodriguez, has wowed scouts with his elite bat-to-ball skills while also possessing violent bat speed, which ensures his contact is not empty.

That all came together last season as he split time between Chattanooga and Louisville, slashing a combined .283/.336/.450 with 19 homers and 15 steals. With the ability to play all three outfield positions, that kind of well-rounded offensive performance just adds to the multi-faceted strengths he possesses, which make him such an exciting prospect.

To be fair, he performed better at Double-A than he did against Triple-A competition, as his OPS dropped from .837 to .709 upon his promotion. He also struggled in a short stint with the big club in spring training.

As a newly minted 22-year-old, these factors shouldn't be too much of a concern. He needs a bit more seasoning, sure, but his time in the oven is nearly over. With some of the platoon bats ahead of him having a tenuous hold on roster spots, it potentially clears a path for his big league arrival sooner rather than later.

When he surfaces and grabs a foothold, his toolsy skillset could allow him to be an impact player in the outfield sooner rather than later, giving the Reds a new kind of asset to add to their portfolio.

He'll be a player to keep an eye on throughout 2026, and if all goes according to plan, his exciting brand of baseball will be delighting Reds fans for years to come.