Cincinnati Reds snag power-hitting shortstop Rece Hinds in Round 2

The Cincinnati Reds addressed their pitching staff in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but turned their attention to the bats with their second pick. The Reds selected Rece Hinds with the 49th overall pick.

The Cincinnati Reds took left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo with their first selection in Monday night’s MLB Draft. In Round 2, the team turned their attention to the bats and took high school shortstop Rece Hinds with the No. 49 overall pick.

At 6’4″, 210-pounds, Rece Hinds already has the physical makeup of a Major League Baseball player. Though listed as a shortstop, Hinds profiles as either a third baseman or even a corner outfielder at the next level. The right-hander signed on to play with the LSU Tigers next season.

Hinds is well regarded for his power. According to FanGraphs, the 18-year-old out of IMG Academy in Florida might have the most raw power of any high school player in this year’s draft. The biggest question mark surrounding Hinds is his ability to make contact. While his power is currently graded at a 60 by MLB.com, his hit tool is sitting at 45.

While some scouts thought that Hinds could go in the latter part of the first round, his ability to pick up the spin of incoming pitches likely turned teams away, allowing the Reds to pick him up in the second round. Pitch recognition is huge at the major league level and it is certainly something that Hinds will have to work on if he wants to make an impact at the big league level.

With his power tool graded at 60, Rece Hinds already rates higher than Taylor Trammell, Jonathan India, Mike Siani, and Stuart Fairchild in that particular area. All the aforementioned players are Top 10 prospects in the Cincinnati farm system according to MLB Pipeline.

With home runs, launch angle, and exit velocity all the rage in Major League Baseball these days, a player with the skillset of Rece Hinds translates well to where the game is headed. Hinds finished second in to No. 2 overall pick Bobby Witt, Jr. in the 2018 T-Mobile High School Home Run Derby. Witt Jr. (26) outhit Hinds (25) by just one during last year’s slugfest.

Given Hinds’ penchant for swings and misses, this is one of those high-risk, high-reward picks for the Cincinnati Reds. If Hinds receives the proper coaching as he ascends through the Reds’ minor league system, he could be a stud at the next level.