Struggling Reds infielders make Cam Collier’s rise impossible to ignore

Cam Collier's start to the 2025 season was slowed by injury, but the Cincinnati Reds top prospect is back where he belongs after getting the call to join the Chattanooga Lookouts this week. Collier was sidelined at the outset of the season due to a wrist injury, and after rehab stints with both the ACL Reds and Dayton Dragons, the 20-year-old was in Tuesday's starting lineup and his Double-A debut did not disappoint.

Collier went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles, including a base hit up the middle in his first Double-A at-bat. This was just a taste of what Collier brings to the table, and along with his Lookouts teammates (Edwin Arroyo and Sal Stewart), the former first-round pick is ready to give Reds fans a preview of coming attractions.

In 11 games with the Dragons, Collier went 12-for-41 (.293) and proved that he was ready for the next level of competition. While Triple-A is the next step before the big leagues, most scouts and pundits will tell you that the best raw talent in the game can be found at the Double-A level. There is no better proving ground for the Reds top prospect, and he got his first taste on Tuesday night.

Top prospect Cam Collier (and Sal Stewart) give Reds fans real hope for what’s coming next

Collier — and Stewart — could be key to the Reds' infield in the coming years. While Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer have both been given opportunities to lock down the corner infield spots over the past couple of seasons, neither has seized control. Noelvi Marte is in the mix as well, but last year's suspension and this year's oblique injury have cast doubt on his long-term future.

The lack of production from Encarnacion-Strand, Steer, and Marte this season will raise questions about Cincinnati's future plans at first and third base. That should give rise to the notion that Collier and Stewart should be given a chance to prove that they're the solution rather than used as trade bait at this year's July 31 deadline.

On Tuesday, Collier played first base while Stewart manned the hot corner. That could very well be a preview of what's to come in 2026 and beyond. Both players profile as bat-first prospects. Stewart is known more for his knowledge of the strike zone and patience at the plate while Collier has an edge in the power department, giving the Reds the potential for a serious 1-2 punch in the middle of the lineup.

While waiting on prospects to develop can be frustrating at times, both Collier and Stewart have the makings of two players who are worth the wait. Though Cincinnati may be tempted to trade one of these talented young infielders in order to upgrade the team's current roster, given the struggles of Encarnacion-Strand, Steer, and Marte, both Collier and Stewart look more like future fixtures than trade fodder.

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