Nick Krall Shares Where Carlos Jorge Stands Heading Into 2027

Outfielder Carlos Jorge stands out most for his speed and athleticism, and now that he has reached the big leagues, the Cincinnati Reds have to figure out how much room the 23-year-old gets in an outfield with plenty of open spots heading into 2027.

A 75-87 finish and a last-place spot in the National League Central left very few jobs on this roster locked in.

He is playing winter ball with Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter League after the Reds assigned him there on Oct. 16, and the club posted a clip of a diving catch he made on Tuesday night.

Jorge debuted on Sept. 4 and hit .217 with one home run and two stolen bases in 18 games, but he saved his best work for the end, going 7-for-21 over the final six games of the season with a leadoff home run while playing center field.

MLB.com lists Jorge as the Reds' No. 15 prospect, and president of baseball operations Nick Krall gave a fair look at where he stands.

Krall said Jorge needs to keep getting better against left-handed pitching, but he also pointed to the little things he can do, such as stealing bases, bunting and coming in as a pinch-runner or for defense.

Krall also spoke about his growth, saying, "I think he’s done a really good job of taking steps forward with where he’s been. He’s still a young player. He still has some work to do, and we need to continue to develop him at this level."

Jorge has a better path to playing time than most rookies because the Reds have so few sure things in the outfield, especially after the club sent TJ Friedl outright to Triple-A Louisville on Sept. 22, a move that makes it look like the former everyday center fielder's run in Cincinnati is over.

Outfielder Dane Myers is a right-handed hitter who does his best work against left-handed pitching, while Jorge hits from the left side and was better against right-handers in the Minors.

I would try that pairing in center field to start, even though there is a good case for Myers keeping the starting job on his own.

Outfielder Héctor Rodríguez also debuted in August, and I can see the argument that he is the better bet over Jorge for regular at-bats.

Jorge will get a chance to compete for a job in camp next year, but a lot depends on who the Reds bring in from outside the organization this winter, and that leaves me less sure about his role for 2027 because any outfield addition would likely push him toward the bench.

I still like what Jorge can give this team right away, since a player who can run, bunt and cover ground in center field fits a last-place roster that needs more ways to win close games.

The at-bats he gets against lefties in the Dominican this winter are what I will pay the most attention to, and if he hits them better, I think he forces his way into the mix once camp opens.