I think we can all agree that corner outfield is among the weakest areas the Reds are dealing with today. Let's dive in, and see the prospects who might change that calculus. We're focused on those players who are currently playing a corner position, not those who might switch in the future. I come not to praise Noelvi Marte-- at least not yet.
TLR Version: Woof. It's bad, y'all. Hope all those middle infielders are willing to move around because... Woof. It's bad.
Top 10 Corner OF Prospects
Ariel Almonte ACL RF
Get to know him because he might be the best hope the Reds have in developing a quality corner OF. Almonte, only 18, followed up a 137 wRC+ 2021 DSL season with a 142 wRC+ ACL season. He's currently showing patience and a better control of the strike zone than nearly all of his compatriots. Did I mention he's 18? He'll take awhile, but might be worth the wait.
Hector Rodriguez Low A OF
And now for something completely different Rodriguez is my type of player-- big-time hit tool, but sacrifices power to hit .350. I get fooled by these guys over and over, largely because the BB totals dry up, and what's left is an empty .280. But there's a reason why I find value here. The Reds need this exact type of bat. Rodriguez has speed for days and showed suprising pop on his way to a seasonal total of .333/ .372/ .536/ .908 over four stops. That alone makes him interesting. That he's 18 and likely to begin next season in Daytona before moving on at the halfway point to Dayton is even better.
Rece Hinds AA RF
Let's start with the obvious. There's not a sure thing here. While Hinds has a high floor (due to speed, arm, and power), he well could go all Samone Peters and disappear before ever making it to the big leagues. An 8.4 BB rate isn't ideal and a nearly 40% (!) K rate is horrid. But he had a really good month. That's enough to get him on this weak list.
Yerlin Confidan Low A RF
Only 19, last year's ACL MVP was on his way to a solid season when he hurt himself. The resulting long layoff really affected both his development time and his numbers. Still, the kid put up solid wRC+ production-- 127 in Complex Ball and 113 in Low A-- despite a low BA and lots of Ks. At least he walks a lot. His glove needs serious work.
Austin Hendrick High A RF
Hendrick was a big swing at the top of the 2020 draft and looks like he might not pan out. That said, he's still only 21-- there's time to be patient. And if you squint, you can see development here. He cut his Ks over the last six weeks of the season from remarkably untenable to merely horrendous. And his power still played. So did his speed-- Hendrick's a toolshed, for real. He desperately needs to develop a better approach, though.
Allan Cerda AA RF
He's Yerlin Confidan with better defense (could be a solid to above average CF and profiles to be excellent in RF) and absolutely no hit tool. But he can currently take a walk. 70 power and a 60 plate approach with a 30 hit tool is an odd mix. Might end up intriguing as a defense/ power fifth OF.
Justin Boyd Low A RF
Lots of potential. Really questionable whether he ever gets to it.
TJ Hopkins AAA OF
He's probably already overplayed his draft potential. Hopkins has arguably had the best season of any Red prospect. He's relatively old for the minor leagues (nearly 26), but he flew through two levels this season after stagnating last year in AA. Not a lot of bone left on that .258/ .333/ .459/ .792 line, but he's useful as a fifth OF. In this august company, that rates higher than it should.
Alex McGarry AAA LF
See Hopkins, TJ. Add more power. Subtract some patience and likely some BA. Subtract about half the defensive value. If the power can play, he'll be serviceable. Will it? Hrmm...
Deivid Alcantara ACL OF
He's a long, long way away, but he's young and had a good season. Stop me if you've heard this: Alcantara's willing to walk but has K issues. I know, I know. But one of these guys may well pop. Could be him. Who knows, at this point?
Watch Out For:
Brian Rey, OF/2B AA
I'm a sucker for an outlier, and Rey's shown pop and a rare ability to get hit with pitches to boost his OBP in the past. He's also shown he's not above cheating, spending half the season in the doghouse after getting caught. When he came back, he played mostly corner OF. As a four-position backup, I like the tools. He might end up putting up Brandon Dixon numbers.