The Cincinnati Reds entered the 2022 season with one of the league's best minor league systems according to several outlets that cover prospects. And one team in particular is housing some of the best prospects in the Reds system.
The Dayton Dragons, the Reds' High Single-A team, has 12 of the Reds top 30 prospects on the roster according to MLB.com.
According to those rankings, the Reds top prospect has already debut in 2022, Nick Lodolo. The injured left-handed starter supplanted Hunter Greene, who's strong rookie season and service time has graduated him from prospect status.
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Overall, Greene, Lodolo and the Reds No.7-ranked prospect Graham Ashcraft have all made their major league debuts and all three have shined at some point.
Ashcraft carried a 1.14 ERA in his first four starts (23.2 innings pitch).
Lodolo's last start was on April 24, when he pitched 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts and earned a win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He went on the 10-day injured list a few days later and is progressing toward a rehab assignment, the Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith reported on June 12.
Will any Reds prospects on the Dayton Dragons have MLB debuts in 2022?
While it's unlikely anyone currently in Dayton will join those three standout Reds rookies in Cincinnati in 2022, the future is looking bright based on the Dragons 2022 results.
The Dragons entered June 12 with a 36-19 record, 4.5 games in first-place in the Midwest League East standings. They had the best record in the Midwest League.
Here are the 12 top-30 Reds prospects playing for the Dayton Dragons on June 12.
Cincinnati Reds top league prospects playing for the Dayton Dragons
The top 30 prospects in Dayton on June 12 are:
- Elly De La Cruz, No.2-ranked Reds prospect, age: 20
- Rece Hinds, No. 8-ranked Reds prospect, age: 21
- Austin Hendrick, No. 10-ranked Reds prospect, age: 20
- Matheu Nelson, No. 11-ranked Reds prospect, age: 23
- Connor Philips, No. 13-ranked Reds prospect, age: 21
- Bryce Bonnin, No. 14-ranked Reds prospect, age: 23
- Christian Roa, No. 15-ranked Reds prospect, age: 23
- Jose Torres, No. 16-ranked Reds prospect, age: 22
- Lyon Richardson, No. 18-ranked Reds prospect, age: 22
- Allan Cerda, No. 21-ranked Reds prospect, age: 22
- Justice Thompson, No. 26-ranked Reds prospect, age: 21
- Joe Boyle, No. 27-ranked Reds prospect, age: 22
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Which Reds top prospect is playing well for 2022 Dayton Dragons?
De La Cruz has taken the MLB prospect rankings by storm in 2022. The shortstop surged up rankings over the course 2021 and he has followed it up with a strong High-A season. De La Cruz, 6-foot-5-inches tall, is batting .286 with 11 home runs, five triples and 10 doubles. He has scored 36 runs and driven in 37.
Boyle, a 6-foot-7 inch right-handed starter, has a .84 ERA in nine starts and 42.2 innings. Boyle was a fifth round pick in 2020 out of Notre Dame.
Andrew Abbott, a left-handed starter and 2021 second-round pick from Virginia, was 3-0 for Dayton with a .67 ERA before being promoted to Double-A, the Chattanooga Lookouts, in May. Abbott has a 3.81 ERA with a 3-1 record in Double-A.
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Who are the Reds top prospects?
Overall, the Reds top 10 prospects at MLB.com are:
- Nick Lodolo; P; Level: MLB; Age: 24
- Elly De La Cruz; SS; Level A+, Age: 20
- Matt McClain; SS; Level: AA; Age: 22
- Brandon Williamson; P; Level: AA; Age: 24
- Jay Allen; OF; Level: A; Age: 19
- Chase Petty; P; Level: A; Age: 19
- Graham Ashcraft; P; Level: MLB; Age: 24
- Rece Hinds; 3B/OF; Level: A+, Age: 21
- Tyler Callihan; 2B; Level: A; Age: 21
- Austin Hendrick: OF; Level: A+; Age: 20
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Who is the top Reds prospect in the MLB rankings?
According to MLB.com, Lodolo is the 34th best prospect in baseball. De La Cruz, however, is the highest-ranked Reds prospect who has not debuted at No. 68.
McLain (75) and Brandon Williamson (89) are also in the top 100.
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