Reds prospect clamoring for call-up, but major red flag should silence his supporters

The Cincinnati Reds have made waves in recent years with a farm system that’s steadily climbed the prospect ranking. From Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz’s electric debuts to the rise of Hunter Greene, Cincinnati has become a pipeline of intriguing young talent. And yet, despite this surplus of prospects, there’s still one thing that continues to elude them: consistent offensive production.

As the Reds look for answers to bolster their lineup, it’s only natural to turn an eye toward their farm system. That’s where 24-year-old second baseman Tyler Callihan is quietly building a compelling case for a call-up.

Through his first 14 games at Triple-A Louisville, Callihan is putting together the kind of stat line that makes front offices take notice. He’s hitting .316/.400/.561 with a 166 wRC+, and has already launched three home runs while driving in nine RBI. At first glance his plate discipline is showing signs of growth with a strong 12.3% walk rate.

Even more encouraging? Callihan has flashed some speed that hasn’t consistently been part of his profile since his earlier days in the system, giving the Reds another dimension to think about as they evaluate potential reinforcements. On the surface, calling up Callihan feels like a no-brainer. He’s producing. He’s healthy. He’s 24 years old. So what’s the holdup? Dig just a little deeper and a giant red flag emerges.

Reds prospect Tyler Callihan is clamoring for call-up, but strikeouts are major concern

Callihan has racked up 20 strikeouts in 14 games, giving him a 30.8% K-rate — the highest of his professional career. That’s not just a red flag; it’s a full siren blaring at the development staff. Strikeout issues in Triple-A rarely correct themselves in the majors. If anything, they get worse. And the Reds know this story all too well.

Will Benson has already become the cautionary tale. He mashes in Louisville, flashing the kind of power that makes you believe it’ll eventually stick at the next level. But once in the bigs, the strikeouts balloon, the homers don’t come often enough to counteract the issue, and the inconsistency gets exposed. He’s stuck in a limbo that’s tough to escape — a place fans of all MLB franchises have seen too often in recent years.

Callihan doesn’t possess Benson’s raw power to mask those strikeouts. If he’s not making consistent contact, he doesn’t have the slugging to carry him through a slump. That’s the danger of calling him up too soon. The risk isn’t just that he’ll struggle — it’s that you could derail the development of an MLB-caliber bat before he even finds his rhythm.

Reds prospect Tyler Callihan has tremendous upside, but needs more time in the minor leagues

There’s no denying Callihan’s upside. His hit tool has always been the calling card, and his early-season production shows why the Reds believed in him when they selected him 85th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. But the best version of Callihan isn’t the one currently striking out at a 30% clip.

It would be wise to allow him to continue working at Triple-A. Give him a runway to get those strikeouts under control over the next month or two. If he proves that he can adjust, that he can shorten up with two strikes and trust his bat-to-ball skills, then the Reds will know they have something real.

But rushing him into the show now — especially with the offense already searching for answers — would be a misfire. It’s a lesson the organization has already learned the hard way. They don’t need to repeat it with Callihan.

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