Cincinnati Reds select Austin Hendrick with 12th pick in 2020 MLB Draft

The Reds selected Austin Hendrick with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.

With the 12th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Austin Hendrick of West Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Hendrick brings power from the left side, something that the Reds farm system is sorely lacking.

With Pennsylvania’s high school baseball season cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hendrick did not have the opportunity to showcase his skills this season. However, Cincinnati’s scouts had obviously seen enough to take Hendrick with the No. 12 pick in Wednesday’s draft.

According to MLB.com, Hendrick was the No. 13 overall draft eligible prospect in this year’s draft. Hendrick is well-regarded for his plus-power, which on the scouting scale 20-80 comes in at 60. If he signs with Cincinnati, Hendrick would become the team’s highest-rated power bat, as Rece Hinds, currently ranked No. 8 in the Reds farm system, has a rating of 60 in the power department as well.

However, outside of Hinds, last year’s second-round pick, Cincinnati’s farm system is void of any real plus-power. Tyler Callihan, the team’s 2019 third-round pick, could tap into some power as well, but both he and Hinds are infielders.

Austin Hendrick is power-hitting outfielder. He can play center field, but a lot of scouts project Hendrick to make right field his home in the future. Cincinnati has two Top 10 outfield prospects in Mike Siani and Stuart Fairchild, but neither brings the power that Hendrick does. Siani is a glove-first centerfielder, and Fairchild profiles as more of a rotational outfielder.

The Reds had been rumored to have an interest in drafting Hendrick for the past few weeks. In fact, several mock drafts predicted Cincinnati would be Hendrick’s most likely landing spot. The Reds made the experts and pundits look like geniuses when Hendrick was chosen with the 12th o overall pick.

The Cincinnati Reds were also favored to possibly land a college pitcher. However, Reid Detmers of the University of Louisville was selected No. 10 by the Los Angeles Angels and Garrett Crochet of the University of Tennessee was drafted at No. 11 by the Chicago White Sox. Hendrick became the most logical choice.

Before fans get too excited, the Reds and Austin Hendrick need to come to an agreement on a contract. As a high school player, Hendrick has the option to honor his commitment to Mississippi State University. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, the two sides will come to an agreement. The signing deadline is August 1st.