Reds Notebook: Elite exit velos & an incredible catch in winter ball

While we’ve known since late June that Redsfest would be returning in January of 2026 after a hiatus as the Cincinnati Convention Center was being remodeled, we now know exactly when. Friday January 16th and Saturday January 17th will see the event return for the first time in three years.

Event Times

Friday January 16, 2026: 3pm ET – 10:30pm ETSaturday January 17, 2026: 11am ET – 6:30pm ET

Prices

For the second time in the last three Redsfests, prices are going up. In 2019 it was $25 for a 2-day pass for an adult or $17 for a 1-day pass for adults. When the event returned in 2021 that price jumped up to $25 for a 1-day pass for adults and $35 for a 2-day pass for adults. When it returned in two months the prices are up once again.

Adults: 1-day pass, $30. 2-day pass $40.Children 12 and younger: 1-day pass, $20. 2-day pass, $30.

For those who aren’t as into math as others – prices are now 60% higher than they were in 2019 for an adult 2-day pass.

2026 Cincinnati Reds Prospect List

Over at RedsMinorLeagues.com we are unveiling the 2026 Top 25 Prospect List this week. Each day we’re going to have five players list as we go through the entire list. Today we began things with the players ranked 21-25. So if you are interested in what could be coming up over the next few years from the minor leagues you should probably go check it out.

Carlos Jorge makes an incredible catch

The Reds don’t have many players that are active in the winter leagues around the world right now. Prospect Carlos Jorge has been the only player from the organization that is playing regularly anywhere right now, though some other minor leaguers are getting into games here and there in the Dominican and Mexican Winter Leagues.

Jorge, a center fielder, has been playing for the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican and he’s hitting .273/.415/.394 and has gone 5-for-5 in steals through 11 games played as one of the youngest players in the league. He’s already made several highlight reel plays in the outfield for the Gigantes, and on Sunday evening he was doing it again as he played in left field.

Cam Collier shows off in the AFL

On Sunday night the Arizona Fall League played their annual Fall Stars game. It’s not exactly an All-Star game, but it’s more of a showcase and All-Star game hybrid. Some guys do get rewarded for playing well in the AFL, but other guys who haven’t played well but are well known prospects were also on the team.

The Reds had four players on the team, but Rhett Lowder was the only pitcher and he was not going to pitch in the game. Catcher Alfredo Duno and infielders Leo Balcazar and Cam Collier were also on the team and they all came off of the bench in the game.

Collier was the only one of the three to pick up a hit. The first baseman and every so often third baseman picked up a single in the top of the 8th inning. It also happened to be the hardest hit ball of the game as it came off of his bat at 113.1 MPH.

Including the Fall Stars game, Cam Collier has three of the 12 hardest hit balls in the Arizona Fall League this year. He had a 115.3 MPH double on October 21st that is the 3rd hardest hit ball, his single last night would be tied for 10th, and he singled at 112.6 MPH on October 25th that is the 12th hardest hit ball in the league thus far.