Reds Prospects Making Noise in Arizona Fall League, Led by Luke Holman

The Cincinnati Reds have multiple prospects in the Arizona Fall League, and they have produced some pretty good moments and stats as the league enters its third week. Let’s dive into some of the more notable players and how they’ve performed with extra playing time. 

Starting pitcher Luke Holman has been stellar, building on the skill set he and the Cincinnati Reds believed they had when they selected him with an early competitive balance pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. 

Injuries have kept him off the field consistently, and he told MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo that this stint in the AFL really feels like the start of his career. 

Holman has thrown nine innings in three appearances with a 15-1 K-BB ratio and a 1.00 ERA. He had thrown just over 15 innings in his career before his appearance in this year’s Arizona Fall League. He could shoot up the Reds prospect rankings in 2027 if he stays healthy and keeps his feet under him in the minors. 

Infielder Carlos Sanchez is fresh off a huge home run on Thursday, a two-run shot to tie the game. In 11 games, Sanchez is hitting .282 with 11 hits and 9 runs batted in. He’s also stolen five bases in those 11 games and has a .955 OPS. 

Sanchez hit .270 in the minors last season, but his production dipped when he moved from High-A Dayton to Double-AA Chattanooga, hitting .214 with the Lookouts after posting a .313 average with the Dragons. The power numbers were consistent, hitting nine home runs with Dayton and seven with Chattanooga. 

Outfielder Yerlin Confidan is hitting .316 with a .902 OPS in five Arizona Fall League games. He hit a long home run on October 21 in a three-hit day. The left-hander has a smooth swing, which he used to hit .260 at Double-A Chattanooga, posting eight home runs and 28 RBI while also having a .760 OPS. 

First baseman Carter Graham is struggling in the AFL after a solid minor-league season. He is hitting just .161 with a .583 OPS. He has struck out 10 times, has just one RBI, and has hit no home runs. 

Across High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga, Graham hit .300 with 29 home runs and 93 runs batted in while posting a .986 OPS in 126 games. It was by far his best minor league season by every conceivable metric, as he had combined for just 18 home runs in 199 career games over three seasons before 2026.