Reds prospect just forced the team’s hand with monster Arizona Fall League run

The Arizona Fall League has been a proving grounds of sorts for a number of Cincinnati Reds prospects over the years. Everyday players like Noelvi Marte and Tyler Stephenson spent some time in the AFL before making it to the big leagues, and the Reds sent a cadre of young talent out to the desert once again with hopes of seeing some marked improvement.

One player who's certainly flashed some talent during the first couple weeks of the AFL is Reds shortstop Leo Balcazar. An international signee in 2021, Balcazar leads his team in hits (12) and has an eight-game hitting streak heading into play on Tuesday, October 21.

The Reds have a tough choice to make in the coming weeks as is relates to Balcazar. If Cincinnati fails to add him to the 40-man roster ahead of next month's deadline, Balcazar could be selected during December's Rule 5 Draft. The 21-year-old's play over the next few weeks could greatly impact his standing with the organization.

Reds prospect Leo Balcazar just forced the team’s hand with monster Arizona Fall League run

Balcazar, a top prospect in the Reds farm system, split this past season between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga. It's not often that opposing teams will select a player during the Rule 5 Draft who doesn't have Triple-A experience, but the Reds protected Lyon Richardson a few years back despite his lack of high-level competition.

Balcazar was slowed by injury earlier in his career, and played just over 100 games at High-A in 2024. This season, however, Balcazar was a regular in the lineup and his combined .263/.339/.381 slash line might already be enough to warrant a spot on the Reds 40-man roster. The skilled shortstop also posted an outstanding 13.4% strikeout rate and paired with a 9.3% walk rate. Balcazar has quite the eye for the strike zone.

The Reds have yet to free up any space on the roster, and at last count, had 47 players on the 40-man. Of course that number will come down once the offseason officially begins and free agents are no longer part of the roster. Cincinnati can also non-tender a handful of players, and a few will surely be outrighted.

Cincinnati should have no trouble adding Balcazar to the 40-man roster later this offseason. If his red-hot start to the Arizona Fall League continues, they'll have no choice but to do just that.