Reds prospects Confidan, Sanchez, Holman shine in AFL Fall Stars Game

The Cincinnati Reds' Arizona Fall League representatives continue to enjoy great success in Peoria, Arizona.

Three Cincinnati players were selected for the Fall Stars Game: starting pitcher Luke Holman, infielder Carlos Sanchez and outfielder Yerlin Confidan.

Sanchez singled home a run and stole a base, and he hit a ball 101.5 mph, according to MLB.com.

Holman struck out two batters in his lone inning of work, and his fastball touched 94 mph.

The star of the show, however, was Confidan, who hit a near home run that became a double in the sixth inning and drew a walk for an RBI in the eighth. He was named MVP of the Fall Stars Game.

Confidan has had a great stint in the AFL, slashing .323/.380/.585 for a .965 OPS. He has two home runs, 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs in 16 games. However, he has 20 strikeouts and six walks in that same span.

The Dominican product had a strong 2026 season, hitting .255 with 15 home runs and a .737 OPS. He posted 73 RBIs with nine stolen bases in 126 games across High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga. His production didn't dip with the step up in levels, as he hit .260 with a .760 OPS and eight home runs in 54 games with the Lookouts.

Confidan is on the list of players the Reds must decide on by Nov. 17, as the Rule 5 draft approaches. Cincinnati will have to decide on Confidan, Sanchez, Carter Graham, former first-round pick Cam Collier, and pitchers Hunter Parks and Jose Acuna.

Graham is a candidate to be kept after a massive minor league season in which he posted a .986 OPS with 29 home runs across two levels. Sanchez, a 21-year-old shortstop prospect, also has a pretty high ceiling and should be considered. Confidan, a left-handed-hitting outfielder, is interesting, but the emergence of Hector Rodriguez, who is a year younger than Confidan, could make it difficult for the Reds to spend a roster spot on Confidan, especially because Cincinnati will likely make multiple additions to the major league roster through free agency or the trade market.

A few players could be sent out of the organization to make room, but trades will be complicated given a possible lockout. Confidan may need to keep up his hot hitting in the second half of the AFL season to lock up his spot with the Reds.