Edwin Arroyo was a top prospect in the Seattle Mariners system before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in the deal that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle. Similarly, Connor Phillips was a key piece in the Mariners system before joining the Reds as part of the trade for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, on the other hand, was a major factor in the Reds’ decision to trade Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins.
Eight Reds will be playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League 🏜️🐺 pic.twitter.com/X1piNPwXNb
— Reds On The Rise (@RedsOnTheRise) September 25, 2024
You might think the common link between these three is that they were all acquired by the Reds during the team’s recent rebuild. While that’s true, there’s more they have in common right now—they each experienced what could be described as “lost years” in 2024. Arroyo dealt with shoulder surgery, Encarnacion-Strand suffered a wrist injury, and Phillips struggled with control issues, all of which tarnished their previously strong reputations.
Thankfully, the Arizona Fall League is approaching, giving them a chance to turn their challenging year around. The Reds announced on Wednesday that they are sending these three prospects, along with five others, to the Glendale Desert Dogs.
The additional five players include Jose Acuña, Tyler Callihan, Arij Fransen, Luis Mey, and Carson Rudd, each with their own unique stories leading them to this prospect showcase league.
Acuña, acquired from the Mets in the Tyler Naquin trade, faced a flexor strain in 2024 and had an uneven year. After a solid showing in Double-A, he struggled in Triple-A but pitched just 39 innings overall, leading the Reds to send him to Arizona for more work.
Callihan, a 2019 3rd-round pick, hasn’t fully lived up to expectations yet, but he recently finished his best minor league season, posting a .996 OPS in his last 30 games.
Mey, a hard-throwing reliever, touched 103 mph with High-A Dayton and had a 2.79 ERA with 8 saves, though his 7.0 walks per 9 innings is something he’ll need to improve in the Fall League.
Rudd, who posted a 3.04 ERA and struck out nearly 10 batters per 9 innings in Double-A, also struggled with walks, with a 6.7 BB/9 rate, something the Reds hope to see him refine.
Fransen, from the Netherlands, joined the Reds in 2021 and recently finished a solid season with High-A Dayton, pitching to a 3.86 ERA in 67.2 innings.
Congrats to all eight players for earning the opportunity to play in such a prestigious league, and here’s hoping those who were sidelined by injuries can regain their form.
