Winter ball has given the Reds a little bit of everything this month: a defensive highlight, a pitching prospect finally getting some runway, and a former Cincinnati arm finding a new home in Baltimore.
In the Dominican Winter League, Carlos Jorge turned in the kind of play that sticks on a reel. Tuesday against Tigres del Licey, the Reds outfielder tracked down a would-be hit from former Reds shortstop Jose Barrero in the fourth inning, then launched into a head-first dive to steal away what looked like an RBI. The play came with a terrific jump and a fully extended layout from the center fielder.
This is Jorge’s second stint with Gigantes del Cibao. He played 33 games for the club last winter and hit .221/.339/.316. In three games so far this winter, he’s 1-for-8 with a home run.
Jorge is also trying to keep his name in the mix for a bigger opportunity. With TJ Friedl no longer on the Reds’ roster and Blake Dunn likely sidelined for most of 2027 after elbow surgery, Jorge has a clear opening to make a push for a spot next spring. His defense has always been his calling card, but if last season’s minor-league line of .308/.376/.427 carries over, Cincinnati may not feel the need to chase a center fielder this offseason.
Elsewhere in the organization’s winter action, Luke Holman is making his fall assignment count in the Arizona Fall League. The Reds took him in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of LSU, but injuries have limited him badly since he entered the system. He has only six minor league appearances over more than two seasons.
Holman, though, has looked sharp with the Peoria Javelinas. Through three games, he has given up just one run on four hits while striking out 15. His latest outing was his best yet: four shutout innings, five strikeouts, and just two hits allowed.
Former Reds reliever Jayvien Sandridge is also on the move. Sandridge, who never pitched in the majors for Cincinnati but spent three seasons in the organization and was once considered a strong prospect, has signed a minor-league deal with the Orioles.
Baltimore originally drafted Sandridge in 2018, and now he’s headed back there after spending last season with three different organizations, including the Orioles. He spent most of the year on the injured list with an unidentified injury and made just six appearances for Baltimore’s Triple-A club.
In Other News...
Reds Linked To Familiar Catcher As Bigger Question Still Looms
A familiar name has popped back into the Reds catching conversation, with Ben Rortvedt now on the market after being designated for assignment by the Dodgers. Rortvedt has already spent time in Cincinnati, and the appeal is easy to see for a club looking at the position through a practical lens: he is regarded as a defense-first catcher who can handle the job without asking for much at the plate.
For the Reds, the larger issue remains the same, though, and it is the one that shapes any short-term move behind the plate. The organization still has Alfredo Duno on the horizon, and any decision on a backup catcher seems tied to how long Cincinnati believes it needs a stopgap before its top prospect is ready to step into the majors. [Read more 🡒]
Elly De La Cruz Looks Ready For An Even Bigger Reds Leap
Elly De La Cruz spent 2026 making it look like the next step in his rise had already arrived. The Reds shortstop turned in career-best offensive numbers, showed real growth against left-handed pitching and finished the year with the kind of all-around season that reminded everyone why he remains one of the sports most electric young players. For a Cincinnati club built around his upside, the encouraging part is not just that he improved, but that the improvements came in areas that had previously kept a lid on his ceiling.
Even with that leap, De La Cruz still finished behind Bobby Witt Jr. in the broader shortstop conversation, which gives a sense of how high the bar now sits. But the late-season finish only added to the impression that another level could be coming, and if he carries this momentum into 2027, he has a real chance to push himself into the MVP picture. For the Reds, that is the kind of development that changes not just a lineup, but the whole tone of a season. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Still Face A Catching Decision Krall Wouldnt Force
The Reds kept Tyler Stephenson in the fold even with free agency looming, which only keeps the long-term catching picture interesting as Alfredo Duno keeps moving through the system. Nick Krall has made it clear the organization is not interested in rushing the top prospect, preferring to let the young backstop keep building in the minors while the big-league job remains in more experienced hands.
Duno is spending winter ball in Venezuela getting more reps, and the early returns have been uneven as he works through the defensive side of the position. Scouts still see enough talent there to believe he can remain behind the plate, but the Reds are looking for development, not a quick promotion, and that leaves the next step in his path worth watching. [Read more 🡒]