Back in the summer of 2023, the Cincinnati Reds selected Rhett Lowder as their first-round pick out of Wake Forest University. He didn’t make his professional debut until the 2024 season, but by the end of that season, he was turning heads on the mound at Great American Ball Park.
His meteoric rise, stellar play, and early success in the majors continue to fuel his hype, and 2025 is a different story entirely. A forearm strain early in training camp sidelined him for a few months, and when he returned, a subsequent oblique injury meant his 2025 season was effectively sent to the lumberyard.
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Still, he’s healthy now and even managed to show the world a lot when he returned to the mound to work with the Peoria Javilinas in the Arizona Fall League. He’s still young (and has very little experience), so he’s still very qualified to be a rookie! With that in mind, and the fact that he’s still fresh enough for us to see in 2024, Lowder earned a solid third spot in this year’s community prospect rankings, receiving about 65% of the vote despite a very crowded field.
Lord, who turns 24 in March, will enter training camp and compete for a spot in the starting rotation at the major league level. If he comes out in relief, then, he could earn that opportunity out of the gate, but considering how many innings he actually pitched last season, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Reds take his time playing him. Barring other outside news, a trip to AAA Louisville to recuperate to start the season is the most likely outcome here, with a return to routine (and a return to the Reds if needed mid-season) definitely in the plan.
Congratulations to Reed, the No. 3 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system!
