Reds must sneak hard-throwing prospect onto 40-man roster after dominant AFL stretch

The Arizona Fall League has been a proving grounds for young prospects looking to make an impact. Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India are a couple of names who've made the jump from the minor leagues to the major leagues after a strong showing at the AFL. Will Luis Mey be the next Cincinnati Reds prospect to join the list?

Many Reds fans probably have no idea who Mey is. The hard-throwing right-hander has been somewhat hidden in the Reds' farm system for quite some time while developing in the lower-levels of the minors. Mey joined the Reds organization as an international signee out of the Dominican Republic and came states-side in 2019.

Mey has an electric fastball, but like so many who've come before him, the flame-throwing right-hander lacks control. Throwing 103 mph is no guarantee that you'll make it in the big leagues, but it'll definitely draw the attention of scouts. And that's exactly why Mey was sent to the AFL this year.

Reds should sneak hard-throwing prospect Luis Mey onto 40-man roster following Arizona Fall League performance

Mey has been lights out in the AFL through the first couple of weeks in Arizona. The 23-year-old has made three appearances for the Glendale Desert Dogs and is operating as the team's closer. Mey has three saves, four strikeouts, only one walk, and hasn't allowed a hit or an earned run in 3 2/3 innings pitched.

Mey is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this offseason. In fact, he was eligible last year, but no team was going to take a flier on a pitcher with a 20.8% walk rate. This season, however, Mey increased his strikeout rate and lowered his walk rate. While an 8.2% K-BB is nowhere near major league-ready, there's a small possibility that another club could swoop in this December and select Mey during the Rule 5 Draft.

In order to protect Mey from such a fate, Cincinnati would need to add the right-hander to the 40-man roster. The Reds don't have many young prospects who'll need to be added this offseason and with so many fringe players currently on the 40-man roster, Cincinnati should figure out a way to clear a spot.

Aside from the impending free agents, the Reds also have players like Casey Legumina, Christian Roa, and even Lyon Richardson who could be removed from the 40-man roster in order to clear a spot for Mey. The young pitcher's upside is to great to risk losing him this offseason.

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