CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The Cincinnati Reds have made significant moves by promoting three of their top prospects to the major league roster. Outfielder Héctor Rodríguez, infielder Edwin Arroyo, and infielder Leo Balcazar have been selected from the Reds’ minor league affiliates to protect them from the Rule 5 draft.
Arroyo, 22, had an impressive 2025 season with AA-Chattanooga, with a .284 batting average. Arroyo, who missed the 2024 season due to shoulder surgery, is highly regarded as one of the Reds’ top prospects by Baseball America and MLB.com.
Leo Balcazar, 21, split his 2025 season between A-Dayton and AA-Chattanooga, posting a .263 average. He was recognized as an Arizona League Fall-Star after a strong performance with the Peoria Javelinas. Balcazar is rated as the 23rd-best prospect in the Reds’ system.
Héctor Rodríguez, 21, excelled in 2025 between AA-Chattanooga and AAA-Louisville, earning Southern League All-Star honors and being named Player of the Week twice. Rodríguez led all Reds farmhands in hits, total bases, and runs, and is considered a top prospect by MLB.com and Baseball America.
Right-handed pitcher Carson Spiers was designated for assignment. He had Tommy John surgery in July and is likely to miss the upcoming season. The 28-year-old Spiers was an undrafted free agent from the 2020 class and made it to the Majors in September of 2023. In 2024 he threw 90 and 2/3 innings and started in 10 of his 22 games and for his career has thrown 117 innings with a 5.69 ERA.