Reds Draft: 3 prep position players Cincinnati should target in Round 1

2. The Reds could snag catching prospect Joe Mack.

Tyler Stephenson is getting his feet wet behind the dish this season, and has the look of the Cincinnati Reds catcher of the future. But, it’s always good to have a backup plan. Joe Mack is one of the most well-rounded catching prospects in this year’s draft, and with so little position depth in the farm system, perhaps Nick Krall takes chance on Mack in Round 1.

With Stephenson graduating to the big leagues, the Cincinnati Reds have just one catching prospect among their Top 30 according to MLB Pipeline. Last year’s draftee Jackson Miller is ranked 13th in Cincinnati’s farm system.

Mack does it all. He can hit for power, make contact, and has cannon for an arm behind home plate. Like many catchers, he does not have elite speed, but that should not be a concern if the Reds are on the lookout for a backstop.

The left-handed hitting Mack has verbally committed to attend the University of Clemson. The Reds have shown in the past that they’re not afraid to take a high school catcher; see Tyler Stephenson, Devin Mesoraco, and the recently drafted Jackson Miller.

There’s another catching prospect that may whet Cincinnati’s appetite, and that’s North Cobb High School’s Harry Ford. Ford has more speed than Mack, but may profile as more of a second baseman or even a centerfielder in the future. If the Reds are looking for a backstop, Joe Mack is it.