Reds: 5 MLB Draft prospects that should be on the shortlist

It’s anyone’s guess as to who the Cincinnati Reds‘ brass is looking at in Round 1 of the 2021 MLB Draft, but we’ve got a pretty good idea of the direction Nick Krall and the front office might go. Given that Cincinnati has three of the first 35 picks, do not be shocked at all if the Reds draft a below-slot player in Round 1 and land a gem with pick No. 30 or 35.

The Reds have the fourth-most draft pool bonus money available, trailing only the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers, all of whom have a pick in the Top 3. If Cincinnati were to select a below-slot prospect with the 17th overall pick, they will have saved some money to help sign a player at No. 30 or No. 35 who may have fallen out of the first-round.

With that in mind, we’ll be looking at a few below-slot options for the Reds, but it would be foolish to discount the idea that Cincinnati may go above-slot value with their first pick, and find a couple of below-slot value players later in the draft. So who might make Cincinnati’s shortlist?

1. Kansas State pitcher Jordan Wicks should be on the Reds’ shortlist.

Jordan Wicks is an imposing left-handed hurler out of the Big 12…sound like someone you know? No, I wouldn’t really compare Wicks to former TCU pitcher and current Reds prospect Nick Lodolo, however, much like the former first-round pick, the K-State lefty can command the strike zone.

Wicks’ calling card is his changeup. His fastball has a high spin-rate, something the Reds typically love from their pitchers. Wicks will not overpower hitters, as his four-seamer sits around 92-95 MPH, but combine that devastating changeup with an ever-developing breaking ball, and Wicks has the makings of a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

It doesn’t hurt that Jordan Wicks is a southpaw either. Outside of Lodolo, the Cincinnati Reds do not have a left-handed pitcher in their Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline. Having seen Tony Santillan and Vladimir Gutierrez graduate to the big leagues, while Lodolo and Hunter Greene are likely not far behind, the Reds need to replenish the arms in their farm system. Adding Wicks is a good place to start.