Reds' prospect rankings get midseason shakeup

CINCINNATI -- A lot can change quickly in player development.

The Reds have certainly shown that during the 2025 season. Their second overall pick from the 2024 Draft, starting pitcher Chase Burns, has already reached the big leagues and graduated from his spot as Cincinnati's top prospect on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 list.

Meanwhile, others have moved up in the order while some have dropped. Add in some fresh faces from the 2025 Draft and you have an ever-evolving list of players and prospects to keep track of as they try to make their way to the Major Leagues.

MLB Pipeline revealed its updated midseason prospect lists on Monday, and now we can zoom in closer on what's happening inside the Reds' system.

Here’s a look at the Reds’ top prospects:

1. Sal Stewart, 3B/2B (MLB No. 31)
2. Rhett Lowder, POS (MLB No. 63)
3. Alfredo Duno, POS (MLB No. 75)
4. Tyson Lewis, SS (MLB No. 85)
5. Steele Hall, SS (MLB No. 89)

Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: OF Adolfo Sanchez (Preseason: 22 | Midseason: 11) -- Sanchez, who signed for $2.7 million in January 2024, struggled during his first Dominican Summer League season with a .216/.356/.345 line. The 18-year-old's second pro season has shown the projection the organization believed was possible. Back in the DSL this season, Sanchez is batting .339/.474/.504 in 36 games.

Fall: RHP Connor Phillips (Preseason: 15 | Midseason: 26) -- After debuting in the Majors near the end of the 2023 season, Phillips struggled during a disastrous 2024 season as a starter for Louisville. He moved into a bullpen role this season and has mostly pitched at Triple-A. Phillips made four appearances for the Reds in the final week of June this season.

New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

5. Steele Hall, SS (first round of 2025 Draft)
10. Aaron Watson, RHP (second round of 2025 Draft)
13. Mason Neville, OF (fourth round of 2025 Draft)
15. Mason Morris, RHP (third round of 2025 Draft)

Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 60 -- Sal Stewart
Power: 60 -- Mason Neville
Run: 70 -- Steele Hall
Arm: 60 -- Ricardo Cabrera (Cam Collier, Edwin Arroyo, Alfredo Duno, Sheng-En Lin)
Defense: 65 -- Liberts Aponte
Fastball: 70 -- Zach Maxwell
Curveball: 55 -- Cole Schoenwetter (Connor Phillips)
Slider: 60 -- Zach Maxwell (Chase Petty, Luke Holman, Tristan Smith)
Changeup: 55 -- Rhett Lowder (Tristan Smith, Cole Schoenwetter)
Control: 65 -- Rhett Lowder