Cincinnati Reds prospect Nick Senzel exits AAA game with shoulder injury

What’s the one beacon we’ve all been looking towards in this so-far miserable Cincinnati Reds season? The imminent call-up of top prospect and former #2 overall MLB draftee Nick Senzel, of course!

With the deadline for keeping team control over him through the 2024 season long in the rear-view mirror, it seemed only the potential of him earning Super Two status might be keeping him in the minors for the time being. That, though, became an afterthought on Saturday, as Senzel exited the AAA Louisville Bats game against the Toledo Mud Hens after diving for a grounder while playing 2B, sending a shiver down the spine of every Reds fan who’s pinned their hopes on him.

BCSN’s Mark Kunz relayed video of the play, and it’s pretty obvious Senzel was in some pain.

Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans later reported that Senzel exited with a jammed shoulder, and that there’s “no structural damage,” which is the best three-word phrase in baseball to hear this side of “Joseph Daniel Votto.” That’s so, so, amazingly good to hear.

Look, with Eugenio Suarez back and healthy, Jose Peraza hitting again, Scooter Gennett playing just well enough on a 6-21 team to serve as placeholder at 2B, and Alex Blandino getting a shot to show what he’s got as the team’s utility infielder, there was no real rush to bring Senzel up anytime soon, anyway. Given that he entered the day hitting .261/.346/.406 in 78 AAA PA - not bad, but certainly not his best quite yet - it’s not exactly as if he’s peaked yet in Louisville, either.

This hopefully won’t be something that keeps him sidelined for more than a day or so, but it’s also another reason we should all probably take a collective deep breath, relax, and realize we’ve got ample time to wait for the 22 year old star prospect to eventually emerge.