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Cincinnati Reds camp battle: Nick Senzel versus Shogo Akiyama
Both Nick Senzel and Shogo Akiyama figure to play prominent roles on the Cincinnati Reds in 2020, but which player has the edge to start in center field?
The Cincinnati Reds drafted Nick Senzel with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. Senzel has been one of the most highly-rated prospects to come through the Reds farm system since Jay Bruce. This past winter, Shogo Akiyama became the first Japanese-born player to sign a big-league contract with Cincinnati. Who’s going to start in center field on Opening Day?
The center field position is one that has stumped Reds fans since the end of the 2019 season. Scott Schebler beat out Senzel in spring camp last year and was named the Opening Day starter in center field. However, a horrendous start to the season, combined with an injured shoulder send Schebler on a one-way ride down I-71 to Triple-A Louisville.
Senzel made his debut with the Reds on May 3rd and was a fixture throughout most of the 2019 season. A couple of freak injuries kept him out of the lineup for a few games, but a midseason adjustment to his swing was one of the biggest head-scratchers of Senzel’s rookie campaign. The 24-year-old suffered a torn labrum toward the end of the season and finished the year on the IL.
Akiyama come to Ciancianti after spending his entire professional career overseas. The 31-year-old is said to be able to play every outfield position, but spent the majority of his playing career in center field. Akiyama got a hit in his first at-bat of the spring on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox.
Both Akiyama and Senzel are likely to see a lot of playing this season. Senzel has the versatility to play on the infield dirt and Akiyama, as mentioned earlier, can play all three outfield spots. But who’s going to get the call as the Opening Day starter in center field? Let’s analyze that question a little closer, shall we?
Shogo Akiyama’s case to start in CF on Opening Day
The one thing that Shogo Akiyama brings to the center field position is experience. Akiyama has spent his entire professional career on the outfield grass, while Nick Senzel just made the switch from infielder to outfielder in 2019. Akiyama has over 900 games of experience playing in the outfield, compared to the 104 games in which Senzel played last season.
Akiyama is also very adept at getting on base, which is a huge part of baseball. The more times you get on base, the more opportunities you provide to your teammates to bring you home. Akiyama has done just that over his career in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.
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Over the past five seasons with the Seibu Lions, Akiyama has an on-base percentage over .400 twice and never finished with an OBP below .385. That’s Joey Votto type stuff right there. If Akiyama’s game translates to Major League Baseball, then he’ll be a force at the top of the Reds lineup.
There in lies the question, however, as Japanese players have not always been able to translate success overseas to success in the states. Akiyama will be going up against the best of the best on a nightly basis. Jack Flaherty, Craig Kimbrel and Josh Hader are just a few names that Akiyama will have to contend with routinely.
Shogo Akiyama has the makeup of a player who can compete at the highest-level, but fans really won’t know what to expect until regular season play begins. Akiyama is a bit of an unknown, but his potential to be a key piece of the 2020 Cincinnati Reds team is definitely something to watch.
Nick Senzel’s case to start in CF on Opening Day
Nick Senzel has definitely had a rough go of it on his path to the majors. Drafted in the first round back in 2016, it was assumed that the former Tennessee Volunteer would eventually become the everyday third baseman for the Reds. No one foresaw the breakout year that Eugenio Suárez had in 2018, and Geno is now firmly entrenched as the Reds third baseman for years to come.
Once Suárez made the leap to stardom, Senzel began to see more time at second base while playing in the minors. However, Scooter-mania took over the Queen City and Scooter Gennett looked to the fixture in the Reds lineup going forward. Gennett was eventually traded to the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati signed Mike Moustakas to play second base this past winter.
So, for all those fans who want to see Nick Senzel return to the infield, trust me, it’s not going to happen. While I suspect that Senzel could play shortstop, obviously that’s not the route the Reds front office is going to go. With all that out of the way, let’s not act like Senzel is a below-average outfielder.
Senzel is, perhaps, the fastest player on the team, which will serve him well playing up the middle of the outfield. Though he ended last season on the injured list with a torn labrum, it’s assumed that the injury will have no ill-effects on Senzel’s ability to make the throws from the outfield. Senzel was credited with four outfield assists last season.
Then there’s Senzel’s ability at the plate. An advanced hitter when he arrived from the University of Tennessee, Senzel hit above .300 at every level of minor league ball he played. Don’t let last year’s .256 batting average fool you, because this dude can rake.
Prediction: Nick Senzel will start in CF on Opening Day
This will be an interesting battle to follow during spring camp, but unlike last year, Nick Senzel will not be fighting for a spot on the 26-man roster. Provided they’re healthy, both Senzel and Shogo Akiyama will be on the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster. However, I think the nod will go to Senzel, who still has a bright future in the Queen City.
Opening Day is an event in Cincinnati, and this will be a first for both Senzel and Akiyama, as Senzel began last season at Triple-A Louisville. In the end, however, I expect Senzel to get the start in center field and fully expect him to be leading off against the St. Louis Cardinals presumptive starting pitcher, Jack Flaherty.
In saying that, don’t rule out the possibility of both Senzel and Akiyama taking the field together on Opening Day. Akiyama’s ability to play the corner outfield spots could land him the start in left field, while free agent pickup Nick Castellanos earns the start in right field.
Perhaps the real camp battle will not be for center field, but rather left field. Jesse Winker is entering a make-it or break-it season after ending the past two years on the injured list. Aristides Aquino exploded onto the scene in August, but faded down the stretch. You’ve also got the likes of Phillip Ervin and Scott Schebler who are looking for a seat at the table.
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The outfield battle itself will be one to watch during camp, and Blog Red Machine will take a closer look at that during the coming days. Both Nick Senzel and Shogo Akiyama will see the field plenty in 2020 and both will be integral in Cincinnati’s quest for the NL Central crown this coming season.