Reds 2020 MLB Draft preview: Schedule, how to watch, bonus pool

The Reds pick 12th in the 2020 MLB Draft.

The 2020 Major League Baseball Draft gets underway today. The Cincinnati Reds own the No. 12 overall pick in the draft. What time do the festivities begin? How can you watch? Who might the Reds take with the 12th pick? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on this year’s draft. Usually going 40 rounds over the course of three days, the 2020 MLB Draft will last only five rounds over the course of two days. The Detroit Tigers, who have the second-largest bonus pool in the draft, will select first.

Last year, the Cincinnati Reds took left-hander Nick Lodolo with the 7th overall pick in the draft. The southpaw out of Texas Christian University played in just eight games last season, but is now considered the team’s No. 1 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is the No. 5 left-handed prospect in Major League Baseball.

How do I watch the draft?

The first round of the 2020 MLB Draft will begin Wednesday, June 10 at 7 PM on both ESPN and MLB Network. There are 37 picks on Day 1, including eight Competitive Balance A picks. The Houston Astros forfeited the right to make a selection in the first round following the investigation into their sign stealing scandal.

Round 2 begins on Thursday, June 11 at 5 PM. Both MLB Network and ESPN2 will air the entirety of the 123 picks. Both the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals have a total of seven picks. The Reds, along with 13 other clubs, have six picks. Cincinnati has a Competitive Balance B pick following the second round.

How many picks do the Reds have?

Six. Though the draft has been reduced to just five rounds, Cincinnati actually owns six picks. The Reds will make their first-round selection at No. 12, then will have pick No. 48 in the second round. Cincinnati will pick 65th in Competitive Balance Round B.

Competitive balance picks, according to MLB.com, are assigned to the 10 lowest-revenue clubs and the clubs from the 10 smallest markets. Competitive balance picks can also be traded, which explains why the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals own Competitive Balance Round B picks in this year’s draft.

How much bonus pool money do the Reds have?

The Cincinnati Reds have $8,552,100 available in this year’s draft pool. Each pick in every round is assigned a value with the team’s total amount to be spent. If the Reds, or any team goes over that amount, they incur a penalty. If a team goes over its bonus pool allotment by 5% or less, they must pay a luxury tax. If a team overspends by 15% or more, it can lose its next two first-round picks.

Last year, the Reds bonus pool sat at $9,528,600. Of course, last year’s amount was based on the first 10 rounds of the draft. Teams will be able to sign undrafted free agents following the 2020 MLB Draft, but the maximum amount allowed for signing bonus is only $20,000.

Who will the Reds take in the first round?

There’s a lot of speculation as to who the Reds will take with the 12th overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. Most scouts are split on whether or not Cincinnati will go after a prep outfielder or a college pitcher. Both appear to offer a few different options.

Bleacher Report pegs Cincinnati to be a landing spot for high school outfielder Austin Hendrick. MLB.com has a similar line of thinking, but their mock draft predicts prep outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Reds. Keith Law of The Athletic has gone back and forth, but thinks Oklahoma right-hander Cade Cavalli could wind up in the Queen City.

In the end, it’s most likely that the Cincinnati Reds front office employs the idea of taking the best player available. Depending on how other teams ahead of them set their board, Cincinnati may have the luxury of choosing between all three players mentioned above.