Hey, its gotta be more interesting than the way the big league team is playing currently...

Anyway, kind of an interesting year as the Reds finally get a pick in the upper half of R1 at #11. On top of that, there are two very viable top prospects with local ties who may be available to them:
- UC's OF/2B Ian Happ and the AAC player of the year
- Arkansas' OF Mike Benintendi - the SEC POY and a grad of Madeira HS

As mentioned in the Happ thread, there's a new mock @mlb.com. It has Benintendi going to the Cubs at 9 (yuk) and Happ going to St.L @ 23 (double yuk). It has the Reds taking Tampa Plant HS (same HS as Bennie Coney?) OF Kyle Tucker.

It claims the Reds' wish list is:
1. Fulmer (RHP for Vandy - SEC pitcher of the year) or Benintendi
2. Tucker (HS OF)
3. Stephenson (HS C)


Also saw that Keith Law put his first one up on Wednesday. It's Insider but he has Tucker going at #5 to Houston and the Reds taking IL LHP Tyler Jay. He has Benintendi going at 13 to the Rays and Happ at 17 to Cleveland (triple yuk?). He says:

Quote:The Reds appear to be highest on Jay and Carson Fulmer (mocked as going @#8), both of whom could pitch in a major-league bullpen this fall, although Jay has a slight advantage there as he will throw about half as many innings as Fulmer will before signing.

I think Cast and thus Walt might be starting to feel some heat from the fanbase. So I could definitely see them going with one of the locals OR with the guy most likely to make a quick contribution at the MLB level (in other words a college pitcher like Jay or Fulmer).

Keith Law's new mock is out. It's Insider but he has Benintendi going 7th to Boston, Happ 9th to the Cubs and the Reds taking Texas HS OF Trenton Clark at #11.

Quote:Analysis: I've lost count of how many players I've heard the Reds on, from Benintendi to Stephenson to Tucker to Fulmer.

Sounds like the Reds continue to confuse everyone with what they are doing (and I'm not just talking about the draft...)

That's a good thing though, especially if they covet someone that hasn't been mentioned. :)

Unless I missed something, Benintendi is a Sophomore and is not eligible for the draft until next year.

(05-29-2015 08:12 AM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  Unless I missed something, Benintendi is a Sophomore and is not eligible for the draft until next year.

Because he turns 21 before the signing deadline, he's eligible to be drafted even though he's a true sophomore.

I have never heard of that option. I always thought that once you pass up signing and hit a campus you are there for three years.

If that is the case, I see parents of good baseball players holding them back a year in high school to game the system.

That happens anyway but I think you would see an increase in using that tactic.