Player of the Week Spotlight: Reds' Collier

From MVP of the All-Star Futures Game to Midwest League Player of the Week, the hits just keep coming for MLB's No. 82 overall prospect, Cam Collier, this summer -- literally.

Collier earned the Minor League Player of the Week Spotlight after going 10-for-17 with five extra-base hits, hitting safely in all four games -- including a four-knock effort -- while posting a 1.768 OPS between July 28-Aug. 4 for High-A Dayton. The 19-year-old is riding a five-game hitting streak with multihit efforts in four straight.

"I feel pretty locked in," Collier told Kevin Millar, Ryan Dempster and Siera Santos on MLB Network's Intentional Talk. "Everything is clicking at the moment and going out there and actually performing on the field -- it feels pretty good."

• 📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ

Collier was a catalyst for the Dragons offense for the entire week, posting a .588/.650/1.118 slash line with two home runs, three doubles, five RBIs, eight runs scored and three walks. The Reds' third-ranked prospect paced the Midwest League in average, OBP, OPS, doubles, runs and total bases (19).

Collier is the son of former Major Leaguer Lou Collier, who played in the big leagues for nine seasons from 1997-2004. Cam credits his father's influence for a great deal of the success he has enjoyed throughout his baseball career.

"It’s definitely been a blessing having him in my corner my whole career," Cam Collier said on MLB Network. "Being able to talk to him about everything I go through on and off the field. That’s definitely been something that’s helped me a lot ... being able to have him in my corner has been great."

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound infielder also reflected on his time at Chipola Junior College in Florida and how that experience helped him develop an edge going into the pro ranks.

"Junior college is definitely cutthroat and it’s definitely good for you," Collier said. "You gotta work hard, JUCO coaches put it on you. They make you work hard and for everything. You get to do a lot more work at JUCO than you do at D-I, so just listen to your coach and get better and play your game."

In July, Collier became the second youngest player to be named the MVP of the All-Star Futures Game (behind José Reyes in 2002) after mashing a go-ahead 409-foot home run for the National League team. Still, the part of the experience that was most meaningful for the lefty swinger was getting to know MLB's No. 12 overall prospect, Samuel Basallo.

"I'd always see him on Instagram and Twitter, and he was one guy I wanted to see up close," Collier said of Baltimore's second-ranked prospect. "See how he worked and see his swing up close. He’s one of the better guys I’ve seen, so just to pick his brain and watch him up close was a pretty good thing for me."

Collier was Cincinnati’s first-round pick (No. 18 overall) in 2022. He began his pro career with a brief taste of rookie ball in 2022 before suiting up last season for the Single-A Daytona Tortugas. Collier batted .246 with 29 extra-base hits, 68 RBIs, 57 walks and five stolen bases across 111 Florida State League games. In 91 games with High-A Dayton this season, the Chicago native is slashing .246/.331/.425 with 15 dingers, 53 RBIs and runs scored, 39 walks and a stolen base on his only attempt.

And when he's not making his impact felt on the diamond, Collier secretly enjoys taking in the tunes of The Smiths.

"When I'm by myself in the car or just chilling in my room, I bump The Smiths," he said.