ST. LOUIS – As much as the Cincinnati Reds will draw attention from all teams during the upcoming Aug. 2 trade deadline, the front office is focused this weekend on Sunday’s Major League Baseball Draft.
The Reds have four picks on Day One of the draft, including Nos. 18, No. 32, No. 55 and No. 73 overall. They received the No. 32 pick as compensation for Nick Castellanos departing in free agency after he declined the club’s one-year qualifying offer last offseason.
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For a franchise that rarely dips into multiyear contracts on the free-agent market, it’s no secret the draft is one of the Reds’ biggest avenues to add impact talent into the organization.
During Saturday's game, they had their 2015 first-round pick (Tyler Stephenson) at catcher, their 2017 first-rounder in center (Nick Senzel), their 2018 top pick at second base (Jonathan India) and their 2019 pick on the mound (Nick Lodolo). Hunter Greene, their top pick in 2016, was the starting pitcher in Friday’s game.
Mock drafts have a variety of players linked to the Reds with the No. 18 pick, including Campbell shortstop Zach Neto (Baseball America and MLB.com), Tennessee outfielder Jordan Beck (ESPN) and Arizona catcher Daniel Susac (The Athletic).
Neto, listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, hit .407 this year with 23 doubles, 15 homers and 50 RBI in 53 games. He walked (39) more than he struck out (19), and he stole 19 bases in 20 attempts. Scouts saw him play well in the Cape Cod League last year, so he has experience against top competition despite coming from a smaller college.
Beck’s stats dipped a bit during SEC play, but he finished with a .298 batting average, .391 on-base percentage, 18 homers, 15 doubles, 61 RBI and 70 runs in 66 games. The 6-foot-3 Alabama native stole six bases in 10 attempts.
Susac hit .366 with 19 doubles, 12 homers and 61 RBI in 64 games. He drew 23 walks and struck out 52 times. He tossed out nine of the 25 runners who tried to steal a base against him.
Reds injuries: List of players out reaches 18, a season high
The Reds entered Saturday with 18 players on the injured list, their single-day season high in a year full of injuries, but they do have some players nearing returns.
• Tyler Mahle, on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, has continued to throw with no issues in Cincinnati. He’s expected to make his next start in the first three games following the All-Star break, which sets him up for two starts ahead of the trade deadline.
“We’re setting up for ways to throw his side wherever he’s going to be on the All-Star break, make sure we have that covered,” Reds Manager David Bell said.
The Reds haven’t announced their rotation order following the All-Star break – it could depend on whether Luis Castillo pitches in the Midsummer Classic – but they’ll shift back into a six-man rotation.
• Right-hander Justin Dunn will make his fifth rehab start Sunday in Triple-A. He’s expected to pitch five innings (around 85 pitches).
He will likely make one more rehab start following the All-Star break, Bell said, before the team needs to make a decision on whether to call him up or keep him pitching at Triple-A Louisville. He could move into the rotation if the Reds trade one of their starters.
• Outfielders Aristides Aquino and Jake Fraley are on rehab assignments with Louisville and will remain there after the All-Star break.
“We talked about sending them out to Arizona, but with the travel and everything, it’s not the worst thing (to take four days off),” Bell said. “They have a little bit longer to go. Get a little break and then finish it up.”
Reds homecoming: An enjoyable trip to New York for Luis Cessa
The Reds’ trip to Yankee Stadium was a familiar, but strange experience for injured Reds reliever Luis Cessa, who is recovering from a back injury.
“It’s different staying in the other clubhouse, but I spent the last six years over there, so it’s pretty awesome,” Cessa said. “I’ve never been in the other clubhouse, so I was lost on the first day. I didn’t know where the cage was, the kitchen, the weight room. It’s good to be back and say hello to my old friends.”
Cessa began playing catch Thursday and he’s progressed to 90 feet as he begins his throwing progression. It was a rough first half of the season for Cessa, who owns a 6.68 ERA through 31 relief appearances.
“It’s not the best way to reset, but maybe that’s what I need, a little rest,” Cessa said. “I started thinking too much.”
Reds roster move: Dauri Moreta joins COVID-related injured list
Dauri Moreta was placed on the COVID-related injured list prior to Saturday’s game against St. Louis and Ryan Hendrix was called up as a substitute player.
Hendrix, who wasn’t added to the 40-man roster as a substitute player, has a 4.07 ERA in 25 relief appearances at Triple-A Louisville with 28 strikeouts and 13 walks in 24 1/3 innings. His ERA was inflated after he gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning last weekend.
“Fastball-curveball command, really attacking the zone with both pitches instead of having the slider and the changeup,” Hendrix said. “A two-pitch mix made it easier for me while I was down there. Simplified things.”
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