Where Reds top prospects are starting '21

With the 2021 season getting started, here's a look at where the Reds' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:

1) Nick Lodolo (MLB No. 50), LHP -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
2) Hunter Greene (MLB No. 61), RHP -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
3) Austin Hendrick (MLB No. 76), OF -- Daytona (Low-A)
4) Jonathan India (MLB No. 95), 2B -- Cincinnati (MLB)
5) Jose Garcia (MLB No. 97), SS -- Chattanooga (Double-A)
6) Mike Siani, OF -- Dayton (High-A)
7) Rece Hinds, 3B -- Daytona (Low-A)
8) Lyon Richardson, RHP -- Dayton (High-A)
9) Tyler Callihan, 2B -- Daytona (Low-A)
10) Tony Santillan, RHP -- Louisville (Triple-A)
11) Christian Roa, RHP -- Daytona (Low-A)
12) Ivan Johnson, SS -- Daytona (Low-A)
13) Vladimir Gutierrez, RHP -- Louisville (Triple-A)
14) Jackson Miller, C -- Extended spring training
15) Riley O'Brien, RHP -- Louisville (Triple-A)
16) Allan Cerda, OF -- Daytona (Low-A)
17) Bryce Bonnin, RHP -- Daytona (Low-A)
18) TJ Friedl, OF -- Louisville (Triple-A)
19) Graham Ashcraft, RHP -- Dayton (High-A)
20) Ryan Hendrix, RHP -- Cincinnati (MLB)
21) Mac Wainwright, OF -- Restricted list
22) Jared Solomon, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
23) Case Williams, RHP -- Daytona (Low-A)
24) Yan Contreras, SS -- Extended spring training
25) Michel Triana, 1B -- Daytona (Low-A)
26) Ariel Almonte, OF -- Dominican complex
27) Malvin Valdez, OF -- Dominican complex
28) Joe Boyle, RHP -- Injured
29) Noah Davis, RHP -- Dayton (High-A)
30) Luis Mey, RHP -- Injured

Team to watch

While Low-A Daytona will be stacked with nine Top 30 players, headlined by 2020 first-rounder Austin Hendrick, who isn’t going to want to tune in to watch Double-A Chattanooga? That’s where fans can watch Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene headline a rotation with Jose Garcia playing shortstop behind them, meaning three of the Reds’ top five prospects will be in one place to start the year.

Teams on MiLB.TV

Triple-A Louisville
Double-A Chattanooga
High-A Dayton

New faces

The Reds were aggressive when the delayed international signing period opened in January, handing out two bonuses close to $2 million each to bring in two new members of the Top 30, both outfielders. Ariel Almonte was No. 26 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international list and received $1.85 million while Malvin Valdez topped him with his $1.9 million bonus, the largest international expenditure the Reds have made to sign a player not from Cuba since 2008. Both should make their debuts in the Dominican Summer League later this year.

On the shelf

Of the three players on the Top 30 starting the year sidelined, Jared Solomon is the one who’ll definitely miss the entirety of the 2021 season. It looked like Solomon was poised to take a step forward with a strong showing at instructs, but had Tommy John surgery in October. The Reds still put him on the 40-man roster, so they clearly think he’ll be able to help out their big league staff once he’s healthy.