MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra updated the farm system rankings over at MLB.com this week. The Cincinnati Reds show up on the list with the 4th best farm system in baseball according to the trio of experts in charge of the rankings. They trail the Cleveland Guardians (#3), the Los Angeles Dodgers (#2), and the Baltimore Orioles (#1).
When the year began the Reds were rated 15th by MLB Pipeline (this was published on March 31st, so it did include the trade acquisitions from the spring). Since then the Reds have had all kinds of changes in the organization. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, Alexis Diaz, Alejo Lopez, and TJ Friedl all have graduated prospect status. The team has also gone out in the last five weeks and had a well regarded draft as well as making multiple trade deadline moves that brought in a whole lot of talent.
All of those moves made since spring training began has really crushed the big league roster, but it has rebuilt the farm system in a big way. We can argue about whether it was the right move to go into rebuild mode, but it is tough to argue that since they did go with that option that as of now they have been making the right moves.
Here’s what was said about the Reds farm system:
The Reds’ restocking has come in a variety of ways. Their last two first-round Draft picks are in the Top 100, and an international signee’s ascension gives them one of the most exciting prospects in baseball. But it’s been the trade market where Cincy has restocked its system the most, with nine of its Top 30, and eight of the top 15, coming in deals. In addition to the intriguing talent at the top, this is the deepest the system has been in some time.
It’s always best to have elite level prospects, but depth matters, too. And prior to the trade deadline deals the farm system lacked plenty of depth. There were some good prospects spread out throughout the system, but the depth was a problem from where I was looking. That’s no longer the case as the trade deadline deals added good depth as well as several high-end prospects to the ranks.