Baseball America and MLB Pipeline both recently released updated rankings for MLB farm systems, placing the Cincinnati Reds in the league’s Top 10. MLB Pipeline ranked them 8th, up from 11th earlier in the year, and credited the organization with six Top 100 prospects. Baseball America placed them 10th with four Top 100 prospects.
The difference largely comes down to Chase Burns. Baseball America considers him a prospect, while MLB Pipeline does not because he has spent more than 45 days on the active major league roster, making him ineligible for Rookie of the Year consideration. Removing Burns from Baseball America’s ranking could drop the Reds closer to 20th, as an elite prospect is often worth more in rankings than multiple lower-tier Top 100 players.
This split shows a significant gap in how the two outlets view the Reds’ system, despite both agreeing it’s solid. While Burns’ prospect status may not matter much for the Reds’ own plans—he’s expected to remain in their rotation—it can influence how other teams view the system in trade talks. A club that rates the Reds like MLB Pipeline might be more open to deals than one aligning with Baseball America’s lower view.
Ultimately, the Reds’ farm system remains a valuable source of talent for the big league club and for potential trades. Even with some differing opinions, the system is producing MLB-ready players and has notable depth, especially among position prospects, though front-line pitching depth is thinner.
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