Keith Law of The Athletic released his midseason Top 60 prospects list today, and just one current Cincinnati Reds prospect made the cut — along with one former Red. However, there are important disclaimers: Law only included players who are still in the minor leagues, so players like Chase Burns, though technically prospects, were not eligible. Recently signed draft picks were considered.
Coming in at No. 60 — the final spot on the list — was Reds shortstop Tyson Lewis. A second-round pick in 2024, Lewis didn’t appear in official games last year due to the complex league’s season ending shortly after the draft and the challenges of getting high school players back into game shape after a long layoff.
This year, Lewis stayed in Arizona rather than joining Single-A Daytona, mainly because of the Reds’ organizational depth at shortstop. Prospects like Edwin Arroyo (Double-A Chattanooga), Leo Balcazar (High-A Dayton), and Sammy Stafura (Single-A Daytona) were all getting regular playing time, which left Lewis without a clear spot at a higher level.
Despite that, Lewis has made the most of his opportunity. He started strong in May, hitting .357 with a .952 OPS, followed by a .338 average and .911 OPS in June. Through July, he’s maintained his form, batting .333 with a .916 OPS. Overall, in 45 games, Lewis is slashing .341/.394/.530 with seven doubles, five triples, six home runs, and 19 stolen bases in 23 attempts.
Not only has Lewis produced great numbers, but his exit velocities have stood out—ranking highly not just within his league but across the minors overall.
With Balcazar recently promoted to Double-A (mostly playing second base), a path may soon open for Sammy Stafura to move to High-A Dayton. That would, in turn, allow the Reds to promote Lewis to Daytona, giving him a chance to play meaningful games down the stretch rather than staying in the Arizona Complex League. Time will tell if that move happens.
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