Reds reward the one prospect fans can't stop talking about

There are a lot of young prospects in the Cincinnati Reds farm system that have the fanbase excited. Players like Alfredo Duno, Sal Stewart, and Tyson Lewis have shown off plenty of high-end talent, and the Cincinnati faithful can't wait to see if that potential translates to the big leagues.

But perhaps no prospect in the Reds pipeline draws more eyeballs than Sheng-En Lin. An international signee out of Japan back in 2023, Lin is a two-way player — something Reds fans haven't seen since Michael Lorenzen was wearing a Cincinnati uniform.

Lin, who's been in the Arizona Complex League since coming to the organization in 2023, is finally ready to make his minor-league debut with the Daytona Tortugas. Lin was promoted to Low-A earlier this week after putting up solid numbers in the ACL.

Reds reward top prospect Sheng-En Lin with promotion to Low-A Daytona

In terms of development, Lin's pitching is ahead of his hitting (at least this season). A right-handed pitcher, Lin has a plus-fastball that can touch the upper-90s. The rest of his repertoire needs a lot of work, the most scouts see potential for Lin to develop a serviceable three-pitch mix.

Lin made 10 appearances on the mound in Arizona this season and owned a 2.67 ERA and 32.5% strikeout rate. It'll be incredibly intriguing to see if those numbers translate to the next level.

On the hitting side of things, Lin's seen a dip in his numbers this season. After posting an impressive .308/.418/.419 slash line with 34 RBI and a 116 wRC+ in 49 games last season, he's hit just .172/.348/.310 in 2025. Lin deserves credit, however, for his impressive 21.2% walk rate that's helped elevate his on-base percentage.

Last season, Lin saw time on the left side of the infield at both shortstop and third base. In order to get him on the mound in 2025, however, Lin has operated mainly as a designated hitter. All 26 of his games as a hitter have come at DH.

Of course, Shohei Ohtani is the gold standard for a two-way player, and while it's incredibly presumptuous to assume that Lin can reach such heights, the Reds appear set to give him the opportunity. Reds fans will be tuned in to see how Lin's development continues to evolve, and he could become one of the most highly anticipated prospects in recent memory if this trajectory continues.

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