During the early part of this season, the Reds have reminded me of another Reds team from not long ago: the 2009 team. Why 2009? The Reds finished 78-84, 4th in the NL Central that season, but it was the year before the magical 2010 division championship. The Reds had a number of prospects who would go on to help the team make the playoffs in 2010 and 2012 (and some of those then-prospects are still having successful careers today).
Of the 46 players on the Reds roster at some point during the 2009 season, twelve were age 25 and under.