Reds: 3 biggest steals from Day 2 of the MLB Draft

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CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 27: Justice Thompson #20 of North Carolina waits for a pitch. The Reds drafted Thompson in Round 6. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

No matter which sport you follow, when the time comes for professional sports franchises to select their newest players, fans always want to know whether or not their team got a deal. Did their squad somehow outsmart the other clubs and snare an under-the-radar prospect? The Cincinnati Reds made nine picks on Monday afternoon. Who were their there biggest steals?

It’s always hard in the moment to recognize whether a team got a tremendous value for the player they selected. I think it’s fair to say that had every team in MLB known in in 2009 what we all know now, Mike Trout would be wearing a Washington Nationals’ jersey. Taking nothing away from Stephenson Strasburg, who the Nats took No. 1, but Trout is a surefire Hall of Famer.

Trout, a three-time MVP, lasted until No. 25. He was taken after the likes of Jiovanni Mier, Grant Green, and Donovan Tate. The Reds, with the eighth overall pick elected to take Mike Leake in 2009. But we’re not looking at the first-round today, even though Cincinnati got a nice pickup in Matt McLain, but rather Day 2. Who were the Reds’ three biggest steals on Day 2?

1. Justice Thompson, Reds 6th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft

With the 180th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds decided to roll the dice with North Carolina outfielder Justice Thompson. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Justice has plus-speed, which allows him to cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Thompson comes in at No. 119 among draft eligible prospects according to MLB.com.

Based strictly on his skillset, Thompson could have gone in Round 2 or 3, but concerns about his hit-tool allowed the former Tar Heel to fall all the way to Round 6. Having just turned 21 years old last Thursday, Thompson is one of thee younger collegiate players to be drafted this summer.

There’s some swing and miss potential in his bat, but Thompson also possesses some impressive raw power as well. He slashed .304/.386/.444 in 54 games at UNC this season. If that .830 OPS translates to the minor leagues, and eventually the majors, Thompson could be more than just a fourth outfielder.

Jun 27, 2018; Omaha, NE, USA; Oregon State Beavers pitcher Kevin Abel (23) pitches during the eighth inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks in game two of the championship series of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kevin Abel, Reds 7th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft

Kevin Abel made a name for himself in 2019 as a member of the Oregon State Beavers that won the College World Series in 2018. That season, Abel appeared in 23 games, including seven starts, and posted a 2.88 ERA in 81.1 innings of work, striking out 108 batters. This season, Abel struck out 109 over 82 innings.

Now, there’s obviously a reason that Abel fell all the way to the Cincinnati Reds at pick No. 210. One look at his walk-rate will show you why. While Abel has 242 career punch outs, he also has 116 career walks. This last season, Abel allowed 61 free passes and posted a BB/9 of 6.7.

Abel isn’t going to blow you away with his velocity. The right-hander sits in the low-90s and his four-seam fastball is sometimes clocked in the high-80s. Now, you may question that, but knowing that Abel has two plus off-speed offering might help to settle you down a bit.

There’s also the job we’ve seen the Reds’ minor league coaching staff over the last couple years. Pitchers like Lucas Sims, Tejay Antone, and Ryan Hendrix have learned how to hone their skills and increase the velocity. I expect the same results from Abel.

Kevin Abel has starter potential; more of a back-of-the-rotation starter, but those types of players are necessary as well. Abel has a three-pitch mix, and relies on that plus-changeup to get hitters out. We’ll see how the Oregon State product develops in Cincinnati’s farm system.

Jun 19, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; NC State Wolfpack shortstop Jose Torres (8) looks for the fly ball. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jose Torres, Reds 3rd-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft

The steal of the Cincinnati Reds draft thus far may have been their third-round pick, Jose Torres. The NC State shortstop lasted until the Reds selected him at No. 89. Torres was once the best prospect in the state of Maryland, and follows the footsteps of Trea Turner and Will Wilson, both elite-level shortstops who played for the Wolfpack.

Torres is a shortstop. There’s no question about his arm strength or his fielding ability. Shortstops are typically the most athletic players on the team, and position changes are not out of the question. It’d be shocking to see the Reds fuss around with his position, despite Cincinnati selecting shortstop Matt McLain with their first-round pick.

In all honesty, Torres may have been the best pure college shortstop in the draft. While players like McLain, Trey Sweeney, and Cody Morrisette may have rated higher than Torres, the fact is, a position change is likely for all three players at the next level.

Where Jose Torres excels defensively, he’s equally solid in the hitting department. Torres has some pop in his bat, and a career-slugging percentage of .533 at NC State suggests he can make some loud contact.

Reds Top 10 round-by-round draft picks of all-time. Next

The Cincinnati Reds front office has found some gems in this draft, and it continues today with Rounds 11-20. Might Cincinnati sneak a few more steals past other MLB clubs on the final day of the 2021 MLB Draft. We’ll have to wait and see.

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