Cincinnati Reds: Pitcher Nick Lodolo most likely first-round selection

The Cincinnati Reds have the No. 7 selection in the upcoming MLB Draft. Most mock drafts have pitcher Nick Lodolo as the Reds’ first-round pick.

The first-year player draft in Major League Baseball never gets the same publicity as the NBA Draft, nor is it filled with the same drama as the NFL Draft. However, the impact of the players selected can help shape a franchise for years to come. With the No. 7 overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, pitcher Nick Lodolo looks to be the most likely selection for the Cincinnati Reds.

Lodolo is a 6’6″, 185-pound left-handed pitcher from Texas Christian University. Lodolo was a first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2016 MLB Draft, but did not sign and honored his commitment to play for the Horned Frogs.

The fact that Lodolo turned down the opportunity to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates makes this selection all the more desirable, right? However, the young man has also put together quite a career at TCU. In his first season, Lodolo went 5-1 in 17 games and was named All-Big 12 Second-Team and the All-Freshman Team.

Lodolo went 7-4 with a 4.32 ERA in his sophomore season and was once again named to the All-Big 12 Second-Team. This season, the southpaw owns a 2.48 ERA with 125 strikeouts and only 21 walks. Lodolo has a three-pitch arsenal that features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s. The California native also throws a decent slider and has a changeup as well.

Nick Lodolo is easily recognized as the best left-handed hurler in this year’s draft class. A few other pitchers (Matthew Allen and Alex Manoah) could rival Lodolo for the best overall pitcher. Kentucky’s Zach Thompson, who’s also a lefty, is very talented as well, but most outlets have Lodolo ranked above him.

So why, with the seventh overall pick, are the Cincinnati Reds able to land the best pitcher in this year’s draft? The biggest reason lies in the depth of this year’s crop of position players. Most mock drafts have the 6 position players coming off the board first.

While the Cincinnati Reds have a plethora of young arms in their farm system, Scott Moss, the team’s No. 15 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is the highest rated left-hander in the organization. A player like Nick Lodolo would certainly be a welcome addition to the Reds and having spent three years at TCU, he should be on a fast path to the majors.