Cincinnati Reds’ Top Prospect Nick Senzel is Ready to Take on Triple-A

Nick Senzel has had a great first 177 pro ball games for the Cincinnati Reds and is ready for a promotion to Triple-A.

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Nick Senzel with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft.  Now he is shooting up the minor league system.  Some of this was expected, which is why he got a $6.2-miillion signing bonus.

No one, though, could have expected him to dominate Double-A the way he has.  Senzel is batting .327 with a .396 OBP.  He also has nine home runs in just 54 games.

Last week in six games, Senzel batted .522 with an OBP of .560.  His OPS was 1.130 compared to his season number of .935 at Pensacola.  He also scored 7 runs and collected a steal.

Those are Joey Votto-type numbers.  He is showing more than that, though.  He hit four home runs and drove in nine last week.

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Senzel appears to be breaking out.  He only walked twice and struck out three times last week.  That is a great sign because Senzel is now a hitter instead of just an on-base machine.

It’s more than just one week for Senzel.  This last week, though, shows what happens when teams don’t pitch around the former first round draft pick.  They get burnt and he looks all-world.

The Cincinnati Reds should promote Pensacola third baseman Nick Senzel to the Louisville Bats now!

More from Reds Prospects

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The Bats have had former shortstop prospects Brandon Dixon and Alex Blandino starting at third base, since second base prospect Dilson Herrera was put on the DL.  Both Dixon and Blandino project as utility players, if they make it to the big leagues.  Senzel, on the other hand, will be the face of the franchise going forward.

With Phil Ervin and Jesse Winker in Cincinnati the Bats could use more bats.  Blandino bats second and has had an OK year.  Dixon tends to bat third and appears over matched at times.

Senzel wanted to make his MLB debut this September.  That appears highly unlikely.  Making his Triple-A debut looks like the right thing.

There is some discussion about whether Senzel’s defense is as advanced as his offense.  If it isn’t, getting to play with better defenders will show his weaknesses.  If his defense is good, the Triple-A fields will be more consistent.

Next: Should Jesse Winker go back to Louisville?

Whenever Senzel makes him MLB debut, it will open a new ERA for the Reds.  The Reds went from the Donkey, Adam Dunn, to Joey Votto.  Now the transition from Votto to Senzel is nearly upon us.