| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 3.60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1.20 |
| Career Minors | 1 | 0 | 3.60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1.20 |
| G | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 1-0 | 3.60 | 5 | 6 | 1.20 |
| Career Minors | 4 | 1-0 | 3.60 | 5 | 6 | 1.20 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Daytona Tortugas | FSL | A | 1 | 0 | 3.60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.20 |
| Daytona Tortugas | FSL | A | 1 | 0 | 3.60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.20 | |
| Career Minors | Daytona Tortugas | FSL | 1 | 0 | 3.60 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.20 |
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
Hayden was the best high school pitcher in Indiana in 2021, then headed to Indiana University for college ball. Pitching mostly in relief over his first two years, he posted a 7.01 ERA and then transferred to Indiana State. He got a chance to start there, with better results, finishing with a 3.81 ERA and 10.5 K/9 rate, though he still struggled to find the strike zone. The Reds saw enough potential to take him in the eighth round of the 2024 Draft, signing him for a touch below slot value. He had a very brief, but impressive, pro debut this past summer with Single-A Daytona.
At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Hayden doesn’t offer much physical projection, but he does have a potential four-pitch mix. The Reds saw a very good fastball-slider combination, with a heater he throws in the 92-97 mph range and an 88-92 mph slider that can miss bats. He also can fold in a slower 83-85 mph curve and an upper 80s changeup, though those two offerings are behind the first two.
The Reds plan on sending Hayden out as a starter in 2025, because they feel he can get to at least average or better command and control of his repertoire. That remains to be seen, as he posted a 6.3 BB/9 rate over three years of college -- 5.4 with the Sycamores in 2024. If starting doesn’t work out, his stuff should play up in shorter relief stints, where his command wouldn’t be as much of an issue.
| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
|
08/20/2024 | RHP Luke Hayden assigned to Daytona Tortugas. |
|
07/19/2024 | Cincinnati Reds signed RHP Luke Hayden. |
|
06/16/2024 | College Workout activated RHP Luke Hayden. |
|
06/15/2020 | RHP Luke Hayden assigned to PG National 2 - Cardinal. |
|
|
06/15/2020 | RHP Luke Hayden assigned to PG National 2 - Cardinal. |
