The top-ranked prospect in the Reds organization took the mound Tuesday night against the Angels and delivered a quick sneak-peak into the future.

Repeatedly.

Left-hander Nick Lodolo flashed his mid-90s fastball and a breaking ball that is still a work in progress, displaying poise and lots of potential. He’s young, though, and that was also evident.

While it was Hunter Greene who garnered much of the well-deserved attention with his elite fastball in Cincinnati’s 7-5 victory, Lodolo’s performance in the second inning was just as notable.

The club’s No. 1 prospect followed Greene and pitched a scoreless inning. It’s how he did it that should get Reds fans excited.

Lodolo, who was selected 7th overall in the 2019 Draft out of TCU, struck out Scott Schebler on a 3-2 fastball and retired the next hitter, Anthony Bemboom, on a sharply hit groundball to first baseman Joey Votto after three pitches for two quick outs.

Lodolo then walked David Fletcher on four consecutive fastballs. He threw a heater past Jon Jay for strike one and then hit him with the next pitch, his sixth consecutive fastball. The following pitch to José Iglesias was a fastball up and in for ball one, before Iglesias hit a fly ball to center field for the final out to complete the 17-pitch inning.

“It felt good to get back out here, the real game environment since summer camp in Cincy last year,” Lodolo, 23, said. “Overall, I thought I felt pretty good. Just excited to be out here.”

Lodolo combined to go 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 18 1/3 innings across Rookie ball and Class A in 2019. He participated in Summer Camp last year and trained at the club’s alternate site. He could make his big league debut this season or in 2022.

“I thought he was really good. He commanded his fastball pretty well,” Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart said. “He just kind of lost a little bit of focus there with the four-pitch walk, but was able to get back under control. But I thought he threw really well. He’s another guy that is going to help us very, very soon, and I’m excited for it.”

It’s uncertain when Lodolo will pitch in a Cactus League game again, but he will be ready when the opportunity comes. It’s been a long wait.

“From the atmosphere standpoint, obviously people in the stands, and it being a new season, you’re ready to go, man. You’re amped up as you were last year,” Lodolo said. “This felt a little different. It might have been [having] some people in the stands after throwing all of last year with just an empty ballpark.”