Cincinnati Reds took some big risks on day two of MLB draft

The Cincinnati Reds took a high school player with the second overall pick and continued the die rolling in day two.

The Cincinnati Reds’ first two picks of day two were risky like Hunter Greene and then followed by a series of solid picks.  The Reds selected high school lefty Jacob Heatherly out of Cullman in Alabama.  He is a 19-year old starter that has committed to play for the University of Alabama, but already signed with the Reds.

In the fourth round the Reds added another shortstop in Cash Case out of the First Academy High School in Florida.  As a left-handed middle infielder, he is intriguing, but he also has committed to Notre Dame.  Using such high picks to take players signed for good college programs is risky for a smaller market team.

Actually, taking any high school player can be a risk for a team like the Reds.  Not only is the success rate of making it to the majors significantly less, but the players take longer to get there.  It is tough to decide because most of the truly elite players come straight out of high school.

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The fifth round pick was about as conservative as you can get.  The Reds selected the nephew of Ben McDonald and Brett Laxton, who were both elite pitchers in their own rights.  The pick in question, Mac Sceroler, pitched for Southeastern Louisiana State and is more polished than many at 22-years old.

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The rest of day two of the draft for the Cincinnati Reds consisted of solid picks that should contribute.

The Reds’ sixth round pick is similar to Sceroler, but he came from a better baseball program.  Tyler Buffett, grandchild of a cousin of Warren Buffet, is another pitcher that should be ready sooner than later.  He was primarily a starter who has plus stuff, but ERA issues.

In the seventh round the Reds selected Marc Kolozsvary from the University of Florida.

The defensive first catcher struggled as a sophomore, but rebounded in 2017 as a junior.  He grew up in the same hometown as the Reds’ fourth round pick Case.

The rest of day two was spent selecting three college pitchers.  The tenth round pick, Robby Howell, may be the most familiar to college baseball fans as he was the ace of the American Athletic Conference Champion University of Central Florida.  The other two pitchers came from lesser programs including one that has already signed.

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The Reds definitely put more emphasis on how players do playing in summer leagues and with wooden bats.  Even with that, it is awfully aggressive for them to select so many high school players so early.  It may be nice to find the next Mike Trout, but right now the next Mike Leake is what they really need.