With the #7 pick, the Reds select Nick Lodolo

The first handful of selections in this year’s draft have basically gone as expected, and the Reds keep that train a-movin’. With the #7 pick, the Reds got left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo from Texas Christian. Wick wrote up a nice little bit on him earlier today.

Last week, I looked at a few possible players the Reds could select. Lodolo featured, of course, and this is what I said then:

Lodolo is pretty much the consensus pick of the internet baseball bloggerati for the Reds at seven. He’s a big wiry Chris Sale-lookin’ sumbitch at 6’6” and 185 lbs, though he’s likely to fill out a bit as he gets older and less weird-looking.

Why am I picking on this kid’s appearance so much jeez man ease up a bit

He has proven himself among the top hurlers in the draft pool by striking out a ton of haters and not walking many fools (125/21 in 98 innings so far this season). His fastball sits low/mid-90s and his curveball and changeup both have impressive potential. TCU has qualified for the NCAA tournament, but they are in a regional with Arkansas and California, so their chances of advancing far are not strong.

I think we all like big shocks and surprises, so the Reds getting Lodolo may not be a whole lot of sexy. But he is probably the best pitcher in the whole draft, which sure ain’t nothing. Hopefully the Reds pay him the money he deserves and get his professional career started right away so we can all start making funny shirts and such with him.