Reds may be nearing an uncomfortable decision with a once promising arm

It isn't just the Cincinnati Reds' rotation depth that has prompted trade rumors surrounding Brady Singer; it's also the impressive collection of young starters making their way through the system.

Fireballer Chase Burns looks poised to fill the void left by Zack Littell's inevitable free-agent departure. The Reds will also be dusting off injured arms Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar at some point in 2026, and also have former first-round pick Rhett Lowder waiting in the wings.

One of those young pitcher, however, has seen his future in the rotation become rather murky. Chase Petty got a brief look in 2025, and it did not go well. The 22-year-old only tallied six total innings in the majors, but his 19.50 ERA and mind-boggling 20% walk rate were enough to raise some concerns.

The small sample might make it seem like a blip on the radar, but back in Louisville, the right-hander also struggled against Triple-A competition. A 6.39 ERA over 112⅔ innings isn't exactly what you want to see from a former top-100 prospect.

The biggest concern with Petty were the walks. It's been a long time since he had a sub-10% walk rate in a single season, and the 11.2% mark he posted in Triple-A last season was the worst mark of his Minor League career. That propensity to dole out free passes is where this uncomfortable conversation begins.

Chase Petty's control issues should have the Reds thinking about a move to the bullpen

Prospect development is as much coaching as it is asset management. It doesn't matter how good your development system is if you don't put your youngsters in the best position for them to succeed. Given a player's particular skill set, it might make sense to pivot from your ideal future for him to a role that better fits his talents once it becomes clear that he's struggling.

That's where the Reds are with Petty. Coming out of high school, the New Jersey native was already touching 100 miles per hour on the radar gun. That type of high-octane gas is rare in a hurler so young.

The hope was that he'd be able to learn to pitch, and for a time it seemed to be working. Petty's developed a serious weapon in his slider, but doesn't have a true, consistent third pitch, with his changeup looking more fringy than anything to this point.

The lack of a full repertoire could be contributing to the walk issues. If there isn't enough variation, it can be easy for hitters to lay off nasty pitches darting out of the zone the second and third time through.

The solution could be popping him in the bullpen. There, his tremendous velocity will play up even more, and he can be the kind of two-pitch pitcher who has success because he doesn't need to navigate a lineup more than once. Even if the walks are still on the higher side, it will hurt less in the bullpen anyway.

That might seem like a disappointment. After all, everyone dreams of top pitching prospects becoming dominant aces who can slice and dice a lineup with ease. However, as innings limits and pitch counts become more and more heavily utilized, and starters pitch fewer and fewer innings, bullpen depth has become increasingly important.

The Reds could use another high-powered arm back there in 2026, and certainly beyond, with Emilio Pagan having the opportunity to opt out after this season. Petty could strengthen the unit this year, and perhaps step into an even larger, high-leverage role in 2027 should all go well.

Such a move wouldn't be a loss so much as it would be a pivot. This is the type of thing smart teams do in order to capitalize on their assets, and it's definitely something the Reds should take under advisement.