The Reds’ September roster picture is starting to take shape, and one name that had been expected to surface is already in the mix. Edwin Arroyo joined the team on Friday, after being projected as one of the two additions when rosters expand from 26 to 28 next month. His recall came because Ke’Bryan Hayes landed on the injured list with a groin injury.
That leaves Cincinnati with a straightforward path on September 1: one position player, one pitcher. Activating Graham Ashcraft from the IL and then promoting another player from the 40-man roster - maybe Leo Balcazar or Juan Brito - is the cleanest route. Bada-bing, bada-boom!
But the more interesting part of the conversation isn’t who shows up next month. It’s which prospects are still on the outside looking in now, yet could matter in 2027.
Alfredo Duno is the clearest example. Reds fans probably shouldn’t expect a big splash from him anytime soon, even if a Major League debut in 2027 feels very realistic. The likeliest path has him arriving late in that season, not early, because the Reds have every reason to keep him developing in the minors for as long as possible.
There’s also a strategic layer here. Sal Stewart’s season has shown how valuable a Rookie of the Year-caliber player can be, especially if it leads to an extra draft pick in 2027. Holding Duno down until at least the middle of August - maybe even September - would preserve his rookie status for 2028 and help Cincinnati keep that possibility alive.
Carlos Jorge sits in a different spot. A September call-up wouldn’t be impossible, but it still feels like a stretch.
He’s now at Triple-A Louisville after spending more than half the year with the Chattanooga Lookouts, and his Double-A production was loud: a .330/.402/.452 line with a 125 wRC+. The 22-year-old also brings speed, with 31 stolen bases on the season.
And after TJ Friedl was placed on waivers earlier this week, Jorge’s profile becomes even more interesting as a possible left-handed platoon option for Dane Myers in center field next season.
Cam Collier remains one of the tougher evaluations in the system. The Reds took him in the first round in 2022, but the progress has been uneven, especially after a hamate injury in spring of 2025.
He has spent the entire season at Double-A Chattanooga and is hitting .211/.288/.369 with a 68 wRC+. That puts Cincinnati in a difficult offseason spot: does it add him to the 40-man roster or not?
His draft status and Major League background argue yes, while the production argues the other way. The Rule 5 Draft decision could tell the story.
If Collier rebounds in 2027, he could get a look in the big leagues next season.
Jay Allen II looked like a lost cause not long ago, but he’s forced his way back into the conversation. The former first-round pick always had the athletic traits - range, speed, defense - yet the bat kept lagging behind.
Before this season, he carried a career .225/.345/.342 line with a 101 wRC+ across four-plus minor league seasons. This year, though, he put together a real turnaround at Double-A, hitting .280/.374/.483 before earning a promotion to Triple-A Louisville.
The adjustment has been tougher there, but a little more time early in 2027 could put him on track for a big-league debut sometime next year.
Carter Graham is another name getting more attention inside the organization. Nick Krall called him a “higher upside guy” and pointed to the breakout he’s having.
MLB Pipeline has him at No. 23 in the Reds’ top 30, and the numbers back up the buzz. At Double-A Chattanooga, Graham is hitting .278/.387/.526 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI in 47 games.
When his work earlier in the year with the Dayton Dragons is added in, he’s at .328/.424/.576 with 28 homers and 89 RBI. His long-term defensive spot still isn’t settled, but the bat is doing enough to make the rest of the question matter less right now.
In Other News...
Edwin Arroyo Just Got A Reds Chance That Could Change The Infield
Edwin Arroyo is back in the big leagues with another opening to make a case for himself, and this one comes at an important moment for the Reds infield. Cincinnati recalled the infielder from Triple-A Louisville after KeBryan Hayes landed on the injured list, giving the club a fresh option to help cover third base and possibly reset a position that has been in flux.
Arroyo has played well at Louisville, but his first major league look did not go smoothly, with struggles on both sides of the ball. Even so, Terry Francona sounded interested in seeing what the young infielder can do with a more defined opportunity this time around, and the Reds are expected to give him a look at third base as they sort through the next stretch without Hayes. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Votto Just Gave Reds Fans A Reason To Show Up At Wrigley
Joey Votto is giving Reds fans another reason to circle the calendar for the trip to Wrigley Field on Aug. 30. The former Cincinnati star posted a message on his Instagram story inviting fans to meet him there during the Reds-Cubs game, where he will be on hand as an analyst for NBCs Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
Votto has been a compelling voice in his post-playing appearances, using previous NBC broadcasts to talk about everything from his career to never having visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He also addressed questions about whether he might eventually work for the Reds on MLB Networks MLB Now, which only adds another layer to what should be a notable night for Cincinnati fans watching from the ballpark. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Made A Telling Kien Vu Decision After His Bat Cooled Off
The Reds moved Kien Vu from Double-A Chattanooga back to High-A Dayton after an injury to outfielder Kyle Henley opened up a spot, a reset that says plenty about where the organization thinks Vu stands right now. He had earned his way up with a strong run in Dayton earlier this season, but the bat never fully carried over in Chattanooga, and the return trip gives him a chance to get back to the level where he looked far more comfortable.
It also fits into a broader player-development picture for Cincinnati, with the club still sorting through the next wave in its Dominican Summer League and keeping an eye on prospects who could be headed stateside soon. For Vu, the assignment is less about a setback than a chance to rediscover the approach and production that pushed him forward in the first place, even if the road back to Double-A now looks a little longer. [Read more 🡒]