Chase

Petty

No surprises here, but Arroyo, Lowder and Petty are the big-name prospects here. Lowder was Cincinnati’s first-round pick last summer and figures to move quickly after a standout collegiate career. Petty throws extremely hard and is just beginning to harness his formidable arsenal. He might be the first to arrive in the big leagues out of that trio.

Petty, who turns 21 in April, posted a 1.72 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 18 games and 68 innings between High-A and Double-A last season. He was coming off a right elbow injury at the end of the 2022 season and the Reds made sure to be cautious last year, but he’s hopeful to pitch without a leash in 2024. Reds vice president of player development Shawn Pender said he’s received reports that Petty has reached 98-99 MPH with his four-seam fastball. Petty, the 26th overall pick from 2021, was part of the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Twins prior to the 2022 season. Depending on his progress, he could be ready to make an impact in the majors later this season.

The veteran right-hander gives the Twins a much-needed arm in their rotation while the Reds continue to make confusing and embarrassing decisions. Gray posted a 4.19 ERA over 135 1/3 innings last season with 155 strikeouts and a 47.2 percent ground ball rate. The 32-year-old is due $10 million in 2022 with a $12 million club option for 2023.

Petty was the Twins’ first-round pick in the 2021 draft and was slated to be used as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues this season, although many project the right-hander to be a reliever long-term. The 18-year-old from New Jersey can reach triple-digits with his fastball that is accompanied by a high-80’s slider.

Jim Callis of MLB.com says Petty will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus, which is a tad under the slot value for the No. 26 pick of $2.6534 million. Petty is a raw high school arm but had some of the best upside of any pitcher in the Draft.

Petty’s name suggests NASCAR star, but it’s his fastball that goes, well, fast. The right-hander already gets his fastball into the upper 90s routinely, and it should become more routine as he fills out his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. His slider can be an out pitch, but it’s an inconsistent offering that he still struggles locating. The same is true about an average change he’ll need to use more, and his overall command is well below-average right now. Petty has big-time upside, but there’s a lot of work to be done for him to reach that potential. The Twins will be in no rush.