DENVER – It took two years for the strategy that landed the Cincinnati Reds the No. 30 overall pick in Sunday’s Major League Baseball Draft to work.
The premise was acquiring a top player ahead of free agency for a prospect, which gave the big-league club a boost for a potential playoff run, then gaining another comparable prospect through draft pick compensation if the top player signed elsewhere as a free agent.
It backfired during the 2019 season when Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood didn’t play well enough to earn consideration for a qualifying offer, which leads to the draft pick compensation, and they weren’t close to making the playoffs.
The abbreviated 2020 season stunted the impact, but the Reds reached the playoffs behind Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer and received the No. 30 overall pick when Bauer signed elsewhere in the following offseason.
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The Bauer trade cost the Reds top prospect Taylor Trammell, but now the Reds have an opportunity to add a top prospect into the organization this weekend with the additional pick.
It’ll be an important draft for the Reds, who own three of the first 35 picks. As some of their recent first-round picks begin to establish themselves in the Majors, they’ll need the next wave of prospects to help sustain the farm system.
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Top Cincinnati Reds' draft picks
Here’s a look at the Reds’ top picks over the past decade:
2020 – OF Austin Hendrick (No. 12 overall).
Hendrick stood out in the draft class with his bat speed and raw power. At Low-A Daytona, he’s posted a .191 batting average and .397 on-base percentage through 30 games with eight doubles and two homers. He’s drawn 28 walks and struck out 45 times in 94 at-bats.
2019 – LHP Nick Lodolo (7).
He will represent the Reds in the Futures Game on Sunday. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound lefty has a 0.84 ERA through seven starts at Double-A Chattanooga with 46 strikeouts and six walks in 32 innings. A recurring blister issue cost him nearly all of June, otherwise he’d likely be pitching in Triple-A now.
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2018 – INF Jonathan India (5).
India is a Rookie of the Year contender, entering Saturday with a .278 batting average, .395 on-base percentage, 41 runs and 35 RBI in 77 games. He’s proven himself as an everyday second baseman and he’s been a huge lift to the lineup from the leadoff spot. He didn’t necessarily have a standout minor league season after being drafted, but he took a step forward at the hidden alternate site last year.
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2017 – RHP Hunter Greene (2), SS Jeter Downs (32).
Pitching in minor league games for the first time since 2018, Greene has shown he’s one of the top pitching prospects in the sport. He’s regularly throwing above 100 mph with a solid slider and an improving changeup. He was dominant in Double-A but has posted a 6.23 ERA through his first four starts at Triple-A Louisville.
After the Reds traded Downs to the Dodgers, he was sent to the Boston Red Sox in the Mookie Betts deal. Downs will play in the Futures Game. He’s batting .234 with a .309 on-base percentage in 44 games this year in Triple-A.
2016 – INF Nick Senzel (2), OF Taylor Trammell (35).
Senzel was billed as one of the top prospects in the sport, but injuries have slowed him at the big-league level. He’s been limited to 36 games this year and he played in 23 games in 2020. When he returns this year – he had arthroscopic knee surgery – he’s expected to move into a super-utility role.
Trammell, traded to the Seattle Mariners last summer from the San Diego Padres, made his MLB debut this season. He’s showing some power (seven doubles and eight homers), but he’s striking out far too often (75 times in 156 at-bats) and hitting .160 through 51 games.
2015 – C Tyler Stephenson (11).
He should be a huge part of the Reds’ future. He has such a mature approach at the plate, posting a .279 batting average and .380 on-base percentage through 190 at-bats. Once the power begins to show up, he’s a future All-Star candidate. He’s made strides defensively and played well at first when Joey Votto was injured.
2014 – RHP Nick Howard (19), Alex Blandino (29).
Blandino wasn’t promoted to the big leagues last year, but he carved himself a bench role this season before he broke his hand when he was hit by a pitch. Nick Howard has been a nice comeback story at Double-A Chattanooga, returning to the Reds after battling the yips. Howard has a 2.18 ERA in 19 relief appearances with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 20 2/3 innings.
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2013 – OF Phillip Ervin (27), RHP Michael Lorenzen (38).
Lorenzen is in the last year of his contract before reaching free agency. He’s been a dependable reliever for the past five years. After missing the first three months of the season, Lorenzen is set to join the Reds after the All-Star break. If he didn’t injure his shoulder in spring training, he would’ve been a part of the starting rotation this year.
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Ervin was designated for assignment last year, stuck mostly in a role where he started against left-handed pitching. He’s playing in Triple-A in the Atlanta Braves’ organization.
2012 – RHP Nick Travieso (14), OF Jesse Winker (49), OF Jeff Gelalich (57).
Winker is an All-Star Game starter this season, emerging as one of the best hitters in the National League. Winker was always known for his hitting ability, but now he's added some power to the mix.
Travieso is pitching in an independent league this year and Gelalich hasn’t played since 2017.
2011 – RHP Robert Stephenson (27).
Stephenson was traded to the Colorado Rockies last offseason for Jeff Hoffman, along with one prospect from each team. He has a 4.56 ERA in 27 relief appearances this season.
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