Reds: 3 directions Cincinnati could go with Nick Senzel moving forward

What should the Reds do with Nick Senzel moving forward?

Nick Senzel is on the injured list, again. The Cincinnati Reds reversed their decision to option the 26-year-old to Triple-A Louisville and Senzel was sent to the team’s complex in Arizona to rehab his surgically-repaired knee.

According to Reds’ GM Nick Krall, Senzel was attempting to play through the pain, but doctors discovered that he still had fluid in his knee. If rehab goes well, Senzel could be sent on another rehab assignment with hopes of rejoining his teammates later this season.

This is just the latest in a long line of injuries that have prevented the former first-round pick from developing any sort of identity in the major leagues. Senzel finished his rookie season on the IL following a shoulder injury which later required surgery.

Last season, the former Tennessee Volunteer missed a month of the 60-game season with an undisclosed illness. This season, Senzel was pulled from Opening Day after diving for a fly ball, but returned a couple days later. He was then back on the IL following knee surgery, went on a rehab assignment late last month, and is now back on the IL again.

I hear the word “bust” tossed around quite a bit when Reds fans get into a conversation about the former No. 2 overall pick. I don’t subscribe to that mindset, as Senzel’s problem isn’t on-field production as much as it is an inability to stay healthy.

Fans can point to his below-average numbers all they want, but if Senzel was ever able to string together two or three months worth of consistent playing time, he’d likely put up numbers that we saw during his college (.332/.436/.508) and minor league (.311/.385/.505) career.

The question now becomes; what’s next for Nick Senzel? Obviously, the first step is getting him healthy, but the Cincinnati Reds’ front office will have some decisions to make in the near future. What should the Reds do with Nick Senzel?