Luke Holman's Healthy Fall League Debut Is a Real Reason for Reds Fans to Watch the Desert

The Reds' offseason is all free-agent chatter right now, but one of the best stories in the organization is happening in Scottsdale.

Our Take: a healthy Luke Holman could be the kind of homegrown arm that helps Cincinnati in 2027 more than anyone it signs this winter.

Per MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, Holman, the Reds' No. 23 prospect, threw three hitless innings for Scottsdale on Tuesday night, walking one and striking out six. He got at least one strikeout with all four pitches: the four-seamer, curveball, slider and splitter. His fastball sat 91-93 mph and topped out at 95.

Context matters. Holman was a 2024 pick out of LSU with Top 50 draft talent, then threw just nine innings in 2025 before Tommy John surgery and only 6 2/3 more in the complex league this summer. This Fall League stint is basically the start of his pro career, and he says, "I feel better than I ever have."

He was honest that the curveball command isn't all the way back yet; he couldn't land one for a strike in the third. That's normal for an arm with so little mound time since rehab.

Pitching depth wins in the NL Central. If Holman stays healthy and carries this into a full 2027 season, the Reds may already have a piece they'd otherwise go shopping for. Keep an eye on his next few starts.

Sources: MLB.com on Luke Holman, MLB.com: Fall League prospects who could earn 40-man spots