The Reds made their first round of roster cuts this spring on Wednesday, reassigning seven players to Minor League camp. Among them were three of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects—Chase Burns (No. 26), Cam Collier (No. 90), and Edwin Arroyo (No. 91). With these moves, the Reds’ Major League camp now consists of 54 players.
Joining Collier and Arroyo in Minor League camp are right-hander Jose Acuna, catcher Michael Trautwein, outfielder Hector Rodriguez, and infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson.
Burns, who pitched a scoreless inning in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the Rangers, recorded three strikeouts and a walk on 18 pitches. The 22-year-old was the Reds’ second overall pick in last year’s draft after playing at Wake Forest.
Collier spent last season at High-A Dayton, where he hit .248/.355/.443 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs over 119 games. The corner infielder recently jammed his finger on a tag play at first base and will see a medical expert on Thursday, according to manager Terry Francona.
Arroyo was part of the Reds’ return in the 2022 trade that sent Luis Castillo to the Mariners. Although he missed the 2024 season due to a torn labrum, Francona has already taken notice of his potential.
“Arroyo missed a lot of baseball, but when you put a glove on that kid, he looks so comfortable, so athletic,” Francona said. “He’s a switch-hitter and always one of the first guys at the ballpark. His future is really bright. I reminded him to enjoy being 21 and focus on how good he can get. Sometimes kids are so focused on making it to the big leagues that they forget to enjoy the journey.”
While Arroyo didn’t play in a Minor League game last season, he did appear in 18 Arizona Fall League games, hitting .253/.309/.333 for the Glendale Desert Dogs. He shared the experience with Reds big leaguers Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain, who were also rehabbing injuries.
Acuna also played in the Fall League, where he posted a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings and earned a spot in the Arizona Fall Stars Game alongside Arroyo. However, he struggled in Triple-A, recording a 9.95 ERA in four appearances.
Rodriguez, ranked as the Reds’ No. 11 prospect, slashed .274/.309/.420 at High-A Dayton last season. Johnson impressed at Triple-A, hitting .289/.359/.537 with 11 home runs in 47 games while playing both second base and corner outfield. Trautwein also reached Triple-A but struggled offensively, batting .192/.270/.365 across 77 games.
Although the Reds still have 54 players in camp, only 26 will make the Opening Day roster. Francona noted that this round of roster cuts wasn’t particularly difficult, as these players are simply heading to Minor League camp to prepare for their seasons.
“It’s just part of the process,” Francona said. “The tough decisions come later in camp when guys have been competing and have become part of our culture. That’s when it really hits home.”
While Francona didn’t set a timeline for when any of these players might receive a big-league call-up, he emphasized that their performances will determine their opportunities.
“I’d never put a timetable on a player,” he said. “You want them to not just open the door but knock it down. It’s always great when a player forces your hand—that’s the best way.”
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