It’s a new year for the Reds, who have a new manager and high hopes after a disappointing 2024 campaign. Cincinnati has a deep farm system and Reds fans will get a look at some of those highly-touted names this spring. The Reds confirmed their list of 2025 non-roster invitees on January 21. Among the names on that list include former first-round picks Cam Collier & Chase Burns.
The most notable name of the 15 players headed to Reds camp as non-roster invitees is Chase Burns, the team’s 2024 first-round pick. Burns led the NCAA Division I circuit in strikeouts (191) last season over 100 frames.
The former Tennessee & Wake Forest star boasted arguably the best arsenal in the NCAA last season, highlighted by a plus-plus fastball that routinely hit the triple digits, as well as a plus slider. However, Burns needs to be able to keep his delivery together, as he had troubles at times with command while in college.
Burns did not pitch last summer after he signed. If the Reds follow the same model used for Rhett Lowder, Burns could start 2025 in Dayton (A+).
The Reds also invited 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty, acquired in the Sonny Gray trade three years ago. The 21-year-old Petty made it to Triple-A last year and pitched well in brief action with the Bats. He struck out seven over 10 frames and posted a strong 1.80 ERA.
Petty is a potential option for the Reds’ rotation this season, should injuries arise.
Aside from Burns and Petty, the Reds will bring Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier, and Sal Stewart — arguably the team’s three best hitting prospects — as non-roster invites.
Arroyo, a 21-year-old switch-hitting shortstop, recorded 52 extra-base hits, 11 of which were triples, in 2024 at Double-A. He also stole 29 bases. Arroyo finished 2024 at Double-A, playing four games there, and will likely be with Chattanooga to begin 2025.
The same can be said for Collier and Stewart, who played in Dayton last season. Collier, the 18th-overall pick in 2022, hit 20 home runs for the Dragons and walked 66 times over 119 games.
Stewart, a second/third baseman, hasn’t shown as much power compared to Collier. But, he doesn’t strike a lot and get on-base a great amount. Stewart posted a .391 OBP last year at Dayton.
The list of additional non-roster invites includes several former Major Leaguers: Bryan Shaw, Austin Wynns, and Alex Young. Wynns and Young both return to the Reds after suiting up for the team in 2024. Young was traded midseason to the Mets.
Additionally, Jose Acuna, Zach Maxwell, Lenny Torres Jr., Will Banfield, Michael Trautwein, Ivan Johnson, and Hector Rodriguez are headed to big league camp with the Reds.
The Reds are one of several teams to have announced their 2025 non-roster invites. The Athletics, Astros, and Brewers, among others, have as well.