Reds Beat: Looking Back At The 2026 Draft And 3 Second-Day Picks That Tell Us What Reds Are Thinking About The Future

CINCINNATI — This weekend was all about the future for the Reds – albeit an uncertain one – and hoping to restock a talent pipeline the organization desperately needs to compete.

The critical question is did they do enough to warrant optimism that several of them could be making an impact on the big league roster in a couple of seasons.

Guided by amateur scouting director Joe Katuska, the Reds spent their first five picks prioritizing up-the-middle collegiate athleticism, raw defensive tools, and premium fallback value. However, while selecting for high upside is a staple of modern drafting, the haul secured on Saturday introduces a complex portfolio of risk that could either supercharge Cincinnati’s future core or expose glaring developmental vulnerabilities.

The Reds made 16 picks on Day 2 of the Draft on Monday in Philadelphia. We’ll examine three that standout, two because of their football-baseball crossover and another because of his ability to hit and pitch at a high level in Japanese high schools.

With the 154th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected high school shortstop Dylan Bowen out of Hanover Central High School in Indiana, where he also starred for the football team at defensive back and safety. For Katuska, the acquisition represents a calculated addition of dynamic athleticism and high-character talent to the organization’s growing farm system. Bowen, an Oklahoma State commit who was ranked as the No. 105 draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, represents the first prep player taken by the Reds in this year’s draft cycle, making his selection a vital focal point of Day 2 strategy.

The Reds’ familiarity with Bowen was key, as he played for their scout team in the fall, aiding their confidence in signing him. Katuska praised the athletic, up-the-middle player, noting his development through the summer showcase circuit. Katuska sees the versatile, high-character athlete, who comes from an athletic family, as capable of playing multiple positions. “He has the athletic ability to move around,” Katuska said, adding that “he definitely could play multiple spots on the field. He’s a great makeup kid”. Regarding the Oklahoma State commit’s commitment, “Baseball is what he wants,” Katuska noted.

MLB Pipeline: “Bowen has a simple right-handed stroke that he repeats well while focusing on producing line drives from gap to gap. He has the bat speed to catch up to quality velocity and makes consistent contact…has plus speed that translates into base-stealing ability and range at shortstop. He has solid arm strength and should be able to remain at short. His athleticism and arm give him the versatility to play almost anywhere on the diamond.”

In the 13th round, the Reds made one of the most fascinating choices of the 2026 draft by selecting University of Georgia two-way standout Kenny Ishikawa at pick No. 392. A native of Hawaii who relocated to Japan at age seven, Ishikawa’s unique baseball odyssey included a stint in Japanese collegiate baseball, a transfer to Seattle University, and a final collegiate act in the SEC. This international background culminated in him being drafted by the Orix Buffaloes in the NPB Draft, adding a layer of complexity to his signing status.Despite the logistical hurdles of competing with a professional Japanese club for his services, Katuska and the Reds scouting department were spellbound by Ishikawa’s raw data and unique ceiling as both an outfielder and a left-handed pitcher.

“Signing Ishikawa—who is still considered a sophomore and was also drafted by a Japanese club—isn’t a lock for the Reds,” Katuska acknowledged candidly. “But we hope we’ll be able to get it done.”

What makes Ishikawa worth the gamble is his undeniable premium athleticism and late-season progression on the mound, even after a broken foot limited his spring innings. The Reds intend to let him explore his limits both in the batter’s box and on the pitcher’s mound. Katuska admits great fascination with how Ishikawa looked when fully healthy, pointing to his performance before the spring season as the ultimate blueprint for his development. Katuska noted that Ishikawa showed significant progress, particularly as a pitcher during the fall, which is what made the selection so intriguing. For Katuska, the ability to play a position in the SEC while also pitching speaks to a high level of potential. The Reds see Ishikawa’s profile on MLB.com as a high-reward, versatile asset.

Then there’s Moeller High School record-setting quarterback and pitcher Matt Ponatoski. No one threw more touchdown passes in the history of Moeller than Ponatoski and he chose to explore his football and baseball potential at the University of Kentucky. That’s before the Reds chose him in the 18th round Sunday. Because of his immense talent, he was ranked No. 208 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board and originally carried a much higher draft projection. However, signability concerns and his heavy football commitments caused him to slide into the late rounds.

Despite the difficult odds of swaying him away from a high-profile collegiate career in the SEC, Katuska made it clear that the organization simply could not pass up on a hometown talent of this caliber. Following the conclusion of the draft, Katuska expressed the front office’s eagerness to try and bring the Cincinnati native into the organization. “He’s a great kid, has tremendous talent and a lot of options,” Katuska said.

Recognizing the uphill battle that awaits the Reds’ front office before the looming July 27 signing deadline, Katuska confidently added, “We’re going to make our best effort”.

While Ponatoski is a dangerous left-handed hitter who starred at shortstop for Moeller, the Reds have a highly specific developmental blueprint in mind for him should he choose the professional baseball route. Katuska clarified that the Reds evaluated him strictly through a singular lens, noting that the organization drafted Ponatoski exclusively to toe the rubber. Katuska emphasized this strategic vision, stating that the Reds view the local phenom as a pitcher and would ideally “like him to develop just as a pitcher if he signs.”

The intrigue surrounding Ponatoski on the mound centers around a high-90s fastball, a devastating 70-grade arm, and a frame that scouts believe can handle a professional workload. Katuska added that the scouting department watched his toolset take a massive leap forward over the past year. “We saw continued progression from him,” Katuska shared regarding Ponatoski’s upward trajectory. “We saw him really good in the fall as a pitcher and that’s what’s most intriguing about it”. Katuska ultimately believes that Ponatoski’s elite dual-sport athleticism provides a unique foundation for an elite major-league arm, concluding, “Anyone with the athletic ability to play a position in the SEC and also pitch, that says a lot for what their future is.”

On Day 1 with their first two picks, the Reds selected shortstops: Justin Lebron of the University of Alabama at 18th overall and Eric Becker of the University of Virginia at 58th overall. In a vacuum, drafting shortstops is standard industry practice due to their baseline athleticism; if a player cannot stick at shortstop, they can easily slide out to second base, third base, or the outfield.However, the Reds’ farm system and active roster are already overwhelmingly saturated at the position.

At the Major League level, the franchise is anchored by superstar Elly De La Cruz, while elite young infielder Edwin Arroyo looms closely behind. Deeper in the pipeline, the Reds’ 2025 first-round pick, Steele Hall, and fellow prospect Tyson Lewis are both premium, highly-touted shortstops. By adding Lebron and Becker to this mix, Cincinnati has deliberately compounded an organizational bottleneck.The hazard here is twofold. First, minor league development requires consistent, daily repetitions at a player’s natural position to iron out footwork, throwing angles, and defensive instincts.

If the Reds are forced to shuffle multiple elite shortstop prospects across different positions prematurely, they risk stunting their defensive growth. Second, an over-reliance on a single positional profile leaves the farm system exposed to positional deficits elsewhere, most notably in the outfield and behind the plate. If these shortstops do not develop enough offensive versatility to project as impactful outfielders or corner infielders, their paths to the majors will be completely blocked, severely diminishing their trade asset value.Justin Lebron and the SEC Regression HazardIn the first round, the Reds capitalized on the draft board’s natural variance by snagging shortstop Justin Lebron at pick No. 18. On paper, getting Lebron at this juncture looks like an absolute steal. Heading into the 2026 collegiate season, Lebron was widely considered an early favorite to challenge for the No. 1 overall pick after dominant freshman and sophomore campaigns with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The risk, however, is etched into the very reason he slipped down the board: a highly volatile junior season. Lebron’s batting average plummeted to .277, and his struggles were magnified against elite Southeastern Conference (SEC) pitching, against which he hit a meager .229. This regression points to a flaw that has plagued numerous high-profile Reds prospects over the years—a high chase rate against advanced breaking stuff outside the strike zone. While Lebron possesses undeniable 70-grade speed and 60-grade raw power, his in-zone whiff tendencies and vulnerability to premium spin represent a major red flag. If professional pitchers expose his plate discipline issues in the lower minor leagues, Lebron risks transforming from a top-10 talent steal into an expensive, high-strikeout utility player who cannot consistently make contact against upper-tier pitching.

Eric Becker and the Ceiling Limitation
With their second-round selection at No. 58 overall, the Reds went back to the ACC to draft Virginia infielder Eric Becker. In stark contrast to Lebron, Becker brings an exceptionally high floor characterized by elite bat-to-ball skills, excellent zone awareness, and a minimal chase rate. He is a quintessential contact-first left-handed hitter. The risk with Becker does not lie in his bust potential, but rather in his ceiling limitation. Scouts widely agree that Becker’s tools are incredibly flat across the board. He lacks premium raw power and does not possess elite foot speed or an overwhelmingly explosive athletic profile. In the modern game, contact-only middle infielders who generate below-average exit velocities face an uphill battle. If professional wood bats sap what little extra-base authority Becker showcased in college, his offensive profile could easily dissolve into a low-impact, slap-hitting infielder. If the hit tool does not translate at a plus-plus level to offset his lack of power, Becker could top out as a fringe organizational depth piece rather than an everyday major league contributor.

Mulivai Levu and the Defensive Pressure Profile
At pick No. 70 in the Competitive Balance Round B, Cincinnati selected UCLA first baseman Mulivai Levu. Levu had a spectacular breakout season for the Bruins in 2026, launching 18 home runs and generating a massive 1.063 OPS. His left-handed raw power is arguably his finest attribute.The risk profile for Levu is exceptionally rigid. First-base-only prospects carry an immense burden of proof at the plate; if they do not hit for continuous, elite power, they provide almost zero value to a major league roster. Levu has shown a hyper-aggressive approach that borders on reckless, showcasing a tendency to swing at nearly everything thrown his way. While the Reds have expressed a desire to test his athleticism at third base, his defensive footwork makes him a projected long-term fit at first base or designated hitter. If Levu cannot significantly cut down his chase rate against professional pitching, his explosive raw power will be thoroughly neutralized by advanced sequencing, leaving him with an unviable offensive profile for a corner position.

College Arm Volatility: Tyner Horn and Ethan Norby
The final portion of the Reds’ Saturday draft class shifted toward collegiate pitching, selecting Nebraska right-hander Tyner Horn in the third round (No. 94) and East Carolina left-hander Ethan Norby in the fourth round (No. 122). Both selections carry the inherent volatility of college arms who have experienced uneven performance curves. Horn entered the 2026 season as a highly anticipated component of the Cornhuskers’ starting rotation but was eventually demoted to the bullpen after enduring a sequence of erratic, high-stress outings. Finishing with a 4.03 ERA and an up-and-down statistical profile, Horn represents a pure projection bet by Cincinnati’s scouting department. Rebuilding a college pitcher back into a definitive starting role requires significant mechanical overhauls and adjustments to pitch design. If Horn fails to throw his secondary offerings for consistent strikes, his destiny is limited to a high-variance middle-relief track. Norby presents a different style of risk. While he features one of the highest-spinning sliders in the collegiate ranks, his fastball velocity sits comfortably below the major league average.

In modern baseball, a high-spin slider is a lethal weapon, but it loses its efficacy if it is not paired with a fastball that commands respect at the top of the zone. If Norby cannot unlock an extra tick or two of velocity under professional strength and conditioning programs, advanced hitters will simply sit on his breaking stuff, neutralizing his primary weapon.

The Reds’ Saturday draft selections represent a classic high-risk, high-reward strategy. By doubling down on athletic shortstops with offensive question marks and placing firm bets on volatile college power and pitching, Cincinnati’s front office has pinned its success entirely on their player development engine. If the team can refine Lebron’s approach, unlock Becker’s power, harness Levu’s aggression, and stabilize their new pitching acquisitions, this class could yield multiple high-impact assets. However, if these prominent developmental hurdles prove insurmountable, the severe positional overcrowding and mechanical vulnerabilities could easily stall this entire draft crop before they ever reach Great American Ball Park.