Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

When the Reds signed Lin in June of 2023 for $1.2 million, he had been a teenaged two-way standout in international competition, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he should hit or pitch professionally. The answer for now, it seems, is both. A hamstring injury kept him from doing much in terms of a debut the summer after signing, but he returned to the Arizona Complex League in 2024 and, as a position player only, put up a .308/.418/.419 line while playing third and shortstop. But he had spent all season on a pitcher’s throwing program so he could hit in the ACL and pitch in instructional league play, leading to the decision to have him pitch and DH in 2025.

While Lin only threw three or four innings at instructs, it was really impressive, helping pave the way for him to pitch and hit. Lin almost instantly showed off a real three-pitch mix on the mound, starting with a fastball that sat low 90s and touched 97 mph, but played up to above-average because of its life. His 79-83 mph slider is fringy now and his 82-85 mph changeup is average, but all three of his pitches have the chance to be at least above-average. What was the most impressive is that the athleticism that’s present as a position player allowed him to repeat his delivery and command of all of his pitches right from the get-go.

At the plate, Lin will continue to get to show a left-handed swing geared for contact and some sneaky pop and his plus speed is an asset on the basepaths as well. It’s still an experiment, but it’s one of the more fascinating storylines to follow in the Reds system in 2025.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The Reds went all-in at the start of the 2023 international signing period by signing catcher Alfredo Duno for $3.1 million on January 15. They had enough left in their bonus pool in June to make a splash in Asia as well, giving $1.2 million to add Lin to the fold. Then just 17, Lin was a two-way player for Taiwan in international competition that generated internal conversations about whether they should send him out as a pitcher or as a position player and, if that, at which position. Some of those questions will start to truly get answered this year for the first time after a hamstring injury kept him from doing much at instructs after a nine-game debut in the Arizona Complex League.

For now, the decision has been made to focus on Lin the position player, at least partially because it’s easier to go back to pitching as opposed to trying to hit after being only on the mound for a while. He’s a left-handed hitter with a contact-oriented approach, one who has produced well in international competition. While he’s only 5-foot-11, there’s some sneaky pop in his swing, and there could be more as he matures. He’s a plus runner who should be a threat to steal.

With a plus arm that fires low-90s fastballs from the mound (he also has a mid-70s slider and low-80s changeup), Lin has the chance to stick at shortstop. His athleticism is an asset there and also in center field, and he saw time in both spots during his brief debut. Lin is still acclimating to life in the United States and he’ll continue that adjustment as an 18-year-old for nearly all of the 2024 season.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Scouting grades: Fastball 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

The Reds made a huge splash right at the start of the 2023 international signing period by inking one of the top catching prospects in the class, Alfredo Duno, for $3.1 million. They saved some of their bonus pool money to make waves in June as well, when they gave $1.2 million to Lin, a talented player from Taiwan who had played two ways in international competition. The Reds plan to focus on his bat initially, but are not closing the door on letting him do both in the future.

Right now, Lin’s bat is believed to be ahead of his skills on the mound, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up heading in that direction. The left-handed hitter has shown an ability to make a lot of contact with a solid overall approach, hitting well in international competition. There is some power for the 5-foot-11 Lin to tap into, with perhaps more to come as he matures, but right now he’s a hit-over-power type, one who uses his plus speed to his advantage on both sides of the ball.

As a position player, Lin’s athleticism and plus arm could be an asset at shortstop, or the Reds could let his athleticism play in center field. If he does pitch, he has a fastball that averaged close to 92 mph during the Under-18 Baseball World Cup last year, and has touched higher to go along with a mid-70s slider and low 80s changeup.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/06/2025	SS Sheng-En Lin assigned to Daytona Tortugas from ACL Reds.
	08/06/2025	Daytona Tortugas activated SS Sheng-En Lin.
	02/03/2025	SS Sheng-En Lin assigned to Chinese Taipei.
	08/01/2023	RHP Sheng-En Lin assigned to ACL Reds from DSL Reds.
	06/25/2023	DSL Reds activated RHP Sheng-En Lin from the restricted list.
	06/05/2023	Cincinnati Reds signed free agent RHP Sheng-En Lin to a minor league contract.
	06/05/2023	RHP Sheng-En Lin assigned to DSL Reds from DSL Reds.
	09/01/2022	RHP Sheng-En Lin assigned to International Team (18U).
	09/01/2022	International Team (18U) activated RHP Sheng-En Lin.