Promising news for Reds shortstop phenom on the mend

September 1st, 2024

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- Right shoulder surgery has prevented Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo from playing games in 2024 or moving up the system. But the shortstop and the organization have increased reason for optimism that the year won't be a total loss.

That's because Arroyo's rehabilitation is about to take the next step.

"Edwin is progressing well," Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell said. "He's going to start a game progression in Arizona this week and is slated to be a full participant in the Arizona Fall League."

Arroyo, 21, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Reds' No. 3 prospect and at No. 70 overall.

In big league camp for the first time as a non-roster player this past Spring Training, Arroyo was injured during a March 13 exhibition game vs. the Giants. It happened when he jammed his left shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff play.

A few days later, Arroyo had surgery to repair a torn labrum.

The switch-hitting Arroyo was a key acquisition from the Mariners in a trade on July 29, 2022, that sent ace Luis Castillo to Seattle. Cincinnati also got third baseman Noelvi Marte and pitchers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore in the deal.

Arroyo, who was originally expected to open this season at Double-A Chattanooga, batted .252 with a .757 OPS, 13 home runs, 60 RBIs and 29 stolen bases over 123 games between High-A Dayton and Chattanooga last year.

Here is a look at other highlights in the Reds' Minor League system …

Triple-A Louisville

Right-handed starter Connor Phillips, who was sent to the Arizona Complex League in June for a reset after struggling, returned to Louisville and started two games in an effort to get stretched out again.

In two innings on Aug. 21 vs. Gwinnett, Phillips (Reds' No. 16 prospect) gave up three hits and four walks, but just one earned run. On Wednesday at Indianapolis, he pitched four innings, surrendering two earned runs on three hits with no walks, three strikeouts and one home run allowed.

Overall in 16 games for Louisville, Phillips has a 9.57 ERA with 54 walks and 57 strikeouts over 63 innings.

High-A Dayton

Third baseman and No. 5 prospect Cam Collier was on a tear throughout August. The 19-year-old batted .329 with a 1.157 OPS and six homers for the month. That included a three-homer, five-RBI game vs. Cedar Rapids on Aug. 23.

"Collier has had a very strong second half at the plate," Farrell said. "He's understanding what pitchers are trying to do to him, he's taking his walks, he's choking up at times to play the game and put the ball in play. He's picking times to try and do damage."

Single-A Daytona

Shortstop and No. 9 prospect Sammy Stafura went 3-for-5 with a triple, a run and a stolen base, but Daytona was handed an 8-3 loss by Palm Beach on Thursday. Stafura, 19, had six multihit games during August for the Tortugas.