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Sometimes the next big thing comes from one of the lesser-known players in the farm system. Currently rated as the 29th-best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds' system, Tyler Callihan is headed to the big leagues in a joint move that also sees Chase Petty promoted.
On Wednesday, the Reds will play a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals to make up for Tuesday night's rainout. The team gets a 27th player for doubleheaders, but since two are getting called up, that means the team will put at least one on the IL. With a few infielders dealing with injuries, Callihan gets the call.
A third-round selection of the Reds, Callihan has been slowly making his way up the ranks. In 2019, he played for both Greeneville and Billings in the Rookie leagues. He spent all of 2021 and 32 games of 2022 in Single-A Daytona before getting promoted to High-A Dayton.
Callihan stayed in Dayton for 109 games in 2023 before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga. Then, last year, he spent most of the year in Chattanooga before making four appearances in Triple-A Louisville. He started off this season in Louisville, slashing .303/.410/.528 with four home runs and 12 RBI over 24 games.
Cincinnati Reds infielder Tyler Callihan hits a two-run home run in the eighth inning during a MLB spring training baseball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz.Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
According to his MLB Pipeline scouting report:
"It’s been far from a direct path for Callihan, the Jacksonville area high schooler who was thought to be one of the better prep bats in the 2019 Draft. The Reds went over slot to get that bat into their system, giving him $1.5 million in the third round. His first obstacle was the pandemic in 2020, followed by Tommy John surgery a month into his first full season in 2021. His next two seasons were fairly nondescript but were relatively healthy. He got off to a very slow start in Double-A last year, then missed two months with a hand injury. He was a different hitter when he returned, posting a .966 OPS from Aug 8 through the end of the season, then made up for some lost at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
"What Callihan showed at the end of the season earned him a spot on the Reds’ 40-man roster this offseason. He has a sweet left-handed swing that’s capable of loud contact. He can shoot line drives to all fields and taps into his power some, mostly to his pull side, and he absolutely pummels fastballs. He’ll draw walks, but there’s also some swing-and-miss in his game, though he cut that rate down during his hot stretch at the end of last year.
"Callihan has re-made his body to be as athletic as possible. He’s still a below-average runner, but turns in some surprising home-to-first times, legging out more infield hits than you’d expect. His defense has improved at second base, making him a viable option there, and the more reps in left field he gets, the better he is out there. His bat might be ready to contribute soon."
It is expected that Callihan will make his debut in the afternoon matchup against right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas and not the left-handed pitcher the Cardinals will throw in the evening. Either way, it's been a long time coming for the 24-year-old from Jacksonville.
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On Wednesday, the Reds will play a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals to make up for Tuesday night's rainout. The team gets a 27th player for doubleheaders, but since two are getting called up, that means the team will put at least one on the IL. With a few infielders dealing with injuries, Callihan gets the call.
A third-round selection of the Reds, Callihan has been slowly making his way up the ranks. In 2019, he played for both Greeneville and Billings in the Rookie leagues. He spent all of 2021 and 32 games of 2022 in Single-A Daytona before getting promoted to High-A Dayton.
Callihan stayed in Dayton for 109 games in 2023 before being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga. Then, last year, he spent most of the year in Chattanooga before making four appearances in Triple-A Louisville. He started off this season in Louisville, slashing .303/.410/.528 with four home runs and 12 RBI over 24 games.
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Cincinnati Reds infielder Tyler Callihan hits a two-run home run in the eighth inning during a MLB spring training baseball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz.Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
According to his MLB Pipeline scouting report:
"It’s been far from a direct path for Callihan, the Jacksonville area high schooler who was thought to be one of the better prep bats in the 2019 Draft. The Reds went over slot to get that bat into their system, giving him $1.5 million in the third round. His first obstacle was the pandemic in 2020, followed by Tommy John surgery a month into his first full season in 2021. His next two seasons were fairly nondescript but were relatively healthy. He got off to a very slow start in Double-A last year, then missed two months with a hand injury. He was a different hitter when he returned, posting a .966 OPS from Aug 8 through the end of the season, then made up for some lost at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
"What Callihan showed at the end of the season earned him a spot on the Reds’ 40-man roster this offseason. He has a sweet left-handed swing that’s capable of loud contact. He can shoot line drives to all fields and taps into his power some, mostly to his pull side, and he absolutely pummels fastballs. He’ll draw walks, but there’s also some swing-and-miss in his game, though he cut that rate down during his hot stretch at the end of last year.
"Callihan has re-made his body to be as athletic as possible. He’s still a below-average runner, but turns in some surprising home-to-first times, legging out more infield hits than you’d expect. His defense has improved at second base, making him a viable option there, and the more reps in left field he gets, the better he is out there. His bat might be ready to contribute soon."
It is expected that Callihan will make his debut in the afternoon matchup against right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas and not the left-handed pitcher the Cardinals will throw in the evening. Either way, it's been a long time coming for the 24-year-old from Jacksonville.
Continue reading...
