Tyler Callihan
Position: 2B
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 06/22/2000
High School: Providence School of Jacksonville (FL)
How Acquired: Trade (with Reds)
Drafted: 3rd Round, 85th Overall, 2019 (Reds)
Bonus: $1,497,500
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
The Reds drafted Callihan in 2019 in the third round on the strength of a very advanced bat. He showed very good bat-to-ball abilities and had the potential for at least average power. As a pro, he hasn’t shown quite the contact ability that was expected, partly due to difficulty with fastballs up. He has career walk and strikeout percentages of 9% and 23%, respectively. He’s hit for better averages since he got to the upper minors than he did lower down, with moderate power. Defense has always been a question. A prep shortstop, he was expected to move to second or third due to insufficient quickness, with some doubt about whether he’d be quick enough for those positions. He’s played mostly at second in the minors, with some time at third and a little at first and in left. He’s not generally expected to play second in the majors. His speed and arm are average, although he’s been a good base stealer in the minors. Callihan has had a number of significant injuries that have cost him time. The Pirates acquired him from the Reds for Kyle Nicolas.
2019-21
Callihan got off to a good start after signing, with a .740 OPS in rookie and advanced rookie ball, mostly the latter. He did have a 10:50 BB:K. He didn’t play in the pandemic season, then in 2021 had Tommy John surgery, which cost him the season apart from 23 games.
2022-23
After a spring training car accident, the Reds sent Callihan to low A in 2022 when he was ready to go in May. He played in 32 games there and recorded a .755 OPS with a low K rate. He moved up to high A in time to appear in 56 games and hit just 232/297/384, with a strikeout better than every fourth plate appearance.
In 2023, Callihan put in his one full season so far. He spent most of it at high A, still not putting up great numbers, at 236/312/373 with just a slightly lower K rate. The Reds moved him up to AA for 22 games and he got hot there, posting an .856 OPS.
2024-25
The injury bug struck again in 2024, as Callihan missed over two months after breaking a finger while bunting. He spent most of the season in AA and put up a solid line of 271/345/413. He continued to strike out in over a quarter of his plate appearances. He got into four games in AAA and the Reds added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
Callihan opened 2025 in AAA and got off to a very good start, batting 303/410/528, although he continued to strike out a lot. The Reds called him up at the end of April and, in his fourth major league game, he broke a forearm running into the outfield wall. That cost him the rest of the season.
The Pirates acquired Callihan during spring training in 2026. He has two options left.
Stats
Transactions
June 4, 2019: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 3rd round, 85th overall pick; signed on June 13.
November 19, 2024: Contract purchased by the Cincinnati Reds.
March 4, 2026: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Kyle Nicolas.