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Last night the Cincinnati Reds made three picks in the 2016 MLB Draft. Now that the selections have been made, what are analysts saying about the players?
#3 Pick Nick Senzel
#Reds 3B Nick Senzel performed at an elite level this year: .354 AVG, .248 ISO, 15.7 BB% and 8.2 SO%, all upper echelon in Division I.
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) June 9, 2016
In a draft with a lot of uncertainty, Senzel (like Moniak) has one of the highest floors. He's arguably the best pure hitter in college baseball, and there is more power in there. He has proven he can play third base and he should be a solid regular in the big leagues very quickly.
Senzel is the most advanced college hitter in the draft. He has outstanding barrel control and natural strength in his hands, which allows him to punish pitches in all parts of the hitting zone. While he'll show plus power in batting practice, the game swing is more geared for contact, and he might never hit for more than average game power. With an adjustment or two, more may come. His defense at third base has been inconsistent, but we've seen good athletes -- which Senzel is -- develop good gloves at third base later than players at other positions. Senzel is an above-average runner, and some want to see him get a look at second base.
Eye on Baseball Staff at CBS Sports
After going undrafted out of high school, Senzel is the highest drafted player in Tennessee history. (Todd Helton went eighth overall in 1995.) Senzel is a classic "safe" college bat with great stats -- he hit .325/.456/.595 with eight homers, 25 steals, 40 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 57 games this spring -- and solid tools. He's a patient right-handed hitter who knows how to hammer mistakes, and his dominant showing in the Cape Cod League last summer (led the league with a .976 OPS) showed he can handle high-end pitching with a wood bat. The only real question is Senzel's ultimate position. He's played all over the infield for the Volunteers and has the arm for third, but he's not particularly quick or smooth in the field, leading some to believe he'll wind up at first base down the road.
#35 Pick Taylor Trammell
John Sickels of Minor League Ball
Ultra-toolsy athlete, lefty hitter with Georgia Tech commit; plus/plus speed and has power potential as well, could be real steal here. Click here for more details
The Reds, who had the highest bonus pool for the top 10 rounds ($13,923,700) and the first selection after the first round, found just the type of high-ceiling player they hoped for at No. 35 in high school outfielder Trammell. Georgia's Class A football player of the year after rushing for 2,479 yards and 36 touchdowns last fall, he has plus-plus speed and surprising feel to hit for someone whose time has been divided between two sports.
Christopher Crawford of Baseball Prospectus
Trammell is one of the best athletes in the class, an easy plus-plus runner who can flat go get it in center field. He also has some power projection from the left side, but his swing's mechanics need a lot of work. This is a high-upside player, but one who is going to need a lot of work before he's ready to play at the big-league level.
Taylor Trammell from Mt. Paran Chr. Goes to the @Reds #MLBDraft @MLBONFOX @FOX5Sports pic.twitter.com/kIPpvDwZw5
— Cody Chaffins (@Cody_Fox5) June 10, 2016
#43 Pick Chris Okey
John Sickels of Minor League Ball
Overall scouting reports on Okey sound more like he's an okay player rather than a future star. That is true to a certain extent, however Okey doesn't have any serious weaknesses poised to drag his game down, either, and that is a key positive for his future. The general consensus is that Okey can hit .250 with some power and a decent OBP while providing solid defense. He's also proven he can hold up to the rigors of regular catching without loss of offensive production.
As I stated earlier, Okey is the second overall catching prospect behind Collins, in my opinion. He should stay behind the plate long-term with a solid bat. Okey adds to an impressive draft class thus far for Cincinnati.
I was a big fan of this pick and thought Okey could possibly sneak into the first round. He is the best pure catcher in this class. He has excelled the last two years at Clemson and was a well known prep player. There is an above average bat here for the catcher position. He hits and has shown some power as well. He's the third pick for the Reds who projects as a plus offensive player down the road for them.
Chris Okey has plus makeup and a long track record. Added muscle in college, maybe lost a little flexibility, but solid all the way around.
— Michael Lananna (@mlananna) June 10, 2016
Full Draft Grade
John Manuel of Baseball America
Cincinnati got the best college bat in the draft in Nick Senzel, added a high-ceiling prep bat in Taylor Trammell and added catcher Chris Okey from Clemson—whom it tried to draft three years ago—with its third pick. Cincinnati added three potential regulars with the bat to a farm system that's plenty deep in arms. The Reds got better.
For those of you looking for a different kind of draft night analysis, here is Jesse Spector with his grades based on "spoonerisms."
Sick Nenzel is sick. Traylor Tammell is strong as a spoonerism for someone with the same letter starting his first and last names. Ris Chokey is terrifying.
Grade: B-minus