Reds finally release first-round draft bust and put full pressure on prized prospect

The Cincinnati Reds used a first-round draft pick on Florida State University catcher Mat Nelson back in 2021. But after four years, the Reds have decided he's no longer worth their time. According to the Chattanooga Lookouts transaction log, Nelson was released on Monday, July 21.

Nelson represents yet another catching prospect who's failed to work out for the Reds. Over the years, Cincinnati has seen high draft picks like Chris Okey, Mark Kolozsvary, and others fall by the wayside. Reds fans were hoping to see a different outcome from Nelson, but sadly his time with the organization has come to a close.

With Nelson gone, the pressure now shifts to the Reds' top catching prospect Alfredo Duno. After multiple shortcomings, the Reds need Duno to reach his true potential. The 19-year-old backstop recently appeared in the MLB Futures Game and is one of the organization's top prospects.

Reds finally dump once-promising first-round pick as pressure shifts to top prospect Alfredo Duno

Nelson was a bat-first catcher who never figured things out at the professional level. Taken with the 35th-overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Nelson was able to showcase his power in the minor leagues. In 2023 and 2024, he mashed 21 home runs and posted a .437 slugging percentage with a 116 wRC+.

But over the past two seasons at Double-A, his numbers have cratered. In 76 games last season, Nelson managed to hit just .198/.328/.286, and before being released this week, posted a meager slash line of just .088/.253/.138 with a 27 wRC+.

Duno, on the other hand, has been on fire of late. The Reds top catching prospect is hitting .267/.411/.447 at Low-A Daytona and is likely ticketed for a promotion to High-A before the end of the year. Still just a teenager, there's no need for the Reds to fast-track his development to the big leagues, though with Tyler Stephenson heading into free agency after next season, Cincinnati may need his services sooner rather than later.

The Reds have drafted several college catchers — Logan Tanner, Cade Hunter, and Connor Burns — in recent years, but none have found success just yet.

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