Cam Collier answered last year’s power outage but still scuttled Reds’ ideal 2027 plan

Blog Red Machine's Stephen Parello argues that Cam Collier's disappointing 2026 campaign disrupted the Cincinnati Reds' ideal roster plans for the 2027 season. Although Collier hit 18 home runs at Double-A Chattanooga after hitting only four in 2025, his overall slash line dropped to .209/.286/.368 across 135 games. This regression makes a major league call-up unlikely before late in the 2027 season.

Parello highlights this setback as representative of a broader issue across the Reds' upper minor-league levels. With top prospects like Edwin Arroyo, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Petty also facing hurdles, the writer warns that Cincinnati must seek external acquisitions rather than relying on inexpensive internal talent to fill roster needs.