PLAY BALL: 5 Cincinnati Reds prospects to watch as Daytona Tortugas start 2023 MiLB season

DAYTONA BEACH — With nine of the Cincinnati Reds' top 30 prospects on the roster, according to MLB Pipeline, the Daytona Tortugas are projected to be one of the more exciting teams in the lower levels of the minor leagues to begin the season.

First-year manager Julio Morillo likely won't have to tinker too much with his everyday lineup, considering the plethora of position-player prospects sent this week from the club's spring training complex in Arizona. It's a group that includes two 2022 first-round picks, a second-round pick and five international bats, all of whom are 19 or younger.

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"For me, it's a tough job because a lot of these guys are a priority," Morillo said. "They know there's competition between them, but obviously they're not rooting against each other. It's a brotherhood. At the end of the day, the ones who play better will play the most.

"I'm happy in the spot we are, and I'm happy with, especially, where the organization is at this point. Throughout the minor leagues, (the Reds) have so many talented players."

Ahead of Friday's night road opener in St. Lucie, let's profile five Tortugas who the Reds are counting on to develop quickly and help the big-league club in the not-too-distant future.

Victor Acosta

Daytona's middle infield features a pair of intriguing international prospects in Carlos Jorge and Acosta, the latter of whom was acquired last July from the San Diego Padres in a deadline deal for infielder Brandon Drury.

San Diego spent $1.8 million to secure Acosta on Jan. 15, 2021. The 18-year-old will enter his first full season after posting an OPS just over .700 across 42 Arizona Complex League games last year.

Speed is regarded as Acosta's best tool at this stage of his career, but MLB Pipeline believes the switch-hitter also has quick hands to make contact, a decent eye at the dish and well-rounded defensive abilities.

Cam Collier

The biggest name on the list, and the youngest Tortuga on the roster at the tender age of 18, Collier was selected 18th overall after reclassifying for the 2022 draft and attending Chipola College in Marianna. He's a second-generation player; his father, Lou Collier, played parts of eight major league seasons with five franchises (Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Montreal, Boston and Philadelphia).

Signed over slot for $5 million, Collier brings left-handed pop to Daytona. He homered twice and drew seven walks in nine games last summer in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Collier is the highest-rated Reds prospect on the Daytona roster, with MLB Pipeline (No. 69), Baseball America (No. 70) and Fangraphs (No. 71) viewing him among the top 100 in baseball.

Lyon Richardson

Elbow soreness, the COVID-19 pandemic and Tommy John surgery have stunted the development of the 23-year-old Jensen Beach native, a 2018 second-round pick signed for an above-slot bonus of $2 million.

Richardson last pitched in a minor league game on Aug. 25, 2021. That will change Friday as Morillo confirmed that the 6-foot-2, 207-pound right-hander will start the opener in St. Lucie.

For his pro career, Richardson is 5-19 with a 4.88 ERA, 221 strikeouts and 87 walks in 217⅔ innings.

Reds general manager Nick Krall said it was "better to be safe than sorry" when the team added Richardson to its 40-man roster in December, rather than risk losing him in the Rule 5 Draft. Krall mentioned that Richardson was hitting 98-99 mph by the end of the instructional league and still has a chance of cracking a major league pitching staff.

Sal Stewart

Chosen 14 spots behind Collier, Stewart bashed the ball during his senior season at Westminster Christian in Miami. He posted a .506 average with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 23 RBIs and 46 runs scored in 29 games.

The second of four position players the Reds selected within the first 75 picks in 2022, Collier signed for $2.1 million rather than enroll at Vanderbilt.

Like Collier, the right-handed Stewart is listed as a third baseman by MLB Pipeline, but Morillo said the 19-year-old will get his share of starts at second base. Already possessing plenty of pop, Stewart could launch some monstrous home runs on days where the ubiquitous Jackie Robinson Ballpark breezes blow out to left field.

Logan Tanner

A critical part of Mississippi State's College World Series championship team in 2021, Tanner belted 15 home runs that season as a sophomore — including a game-sealer in the final against SEC rival Vanderbilt. However, it's his defense that draws rave reviews and has him ranked the top catcher on the farm for Cincinnati.

Tanner is regarded to have one of the strongest arms among catchers in the minor leagues. It's "as good as advertised," said Morillo, a former Reds catching prospect in his own right.

"One of the things that I really like about him is the connections he develops with the pitchers," Morillo said. "That's a priority for us and the organization — him being able to manage the pitching staff and to make sure those guys trust him behind the plate."

The 22-year-old is one of 11 players who saw action for the Tortugas in 2022. He played in 16 games, slashing .211/.343/.316 with one home run and seven RBIs.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Minor leagues: 5 Cincinnati Reds prospects to watch with Daytona Tortugas