Reds: 3 best decisions during the 2023 MLB Draft

1 of 3

Few teams were able to match what Nick Krall and his team did during the 2023 MLB Draft. The Cincinnati Reds front office added several established, college pitchers as well as some high-ceiling prep prospects.

But as Reds fans are beginning to notice, Krall has a plan and he's sticking to it. After selling off most of the team's assets last year, the front office added depth to the organization's farm system through trades and the draft. Krall and Company are building this team by drafting and developing young talent.

The Reds already have an incredible farm system with top prospects like Connor Phillips, Cam Collier, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, but three decisions made during the 2023 MLB only enhanced the team's group of budding stars.

1. The Reds added pitching early & often during the 2023 MLB Draft.

The Cincinnati Reds went into Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with a plan; get more pitching. Of the Reds 21 selections in the 2023 MLB Draft, 12 (57-percent) were pitchers. Cincinnati's first two draft picks were both college hurlers.

In fact, 10 of the 12 pitchers selected by Cincinnati played college baseball last season. That number jumps to 13 if you include two-way player JeanPierre Ortiz.

Rhett Lowder (Wake Forest) and Ty Floyd (LSU) are arguably behind only first-overall pick Paul Skenes in terms of being major league-ready. Skenes could be sent out to a major league mound today and miss bats, but the Reds first two picks are not too far behind.

Connor Phillips and Chase Petty, both of whom have huge ceilings, are still developing. Adding Lowder and Floyd gives the Cincinnati Reds a pair of pitchers who could find their way to the big leagues as soon as next year.

The highest-upside pick the Reds selected, however, came in Round 4 when Cincinnati nabbed 18-year-old Cole Schoenwetter. Gabe Gaeckle, whom the Reds selected in Round 20, represents the other high school arm selected by Cincinnati.

2. The Reds selections of Ty Floyd & Hunter Hollan allow additions of top prep players.

After selecting a pair of college pitchers with their first two picks, it appeared as though the Cincinnati Reds were shying away from young players and focusing on prospects that could quickly ascend the minor league ladder.

But in Rounds 2 and 4, the Reds added two prep players with tremendous upside. Sammy Stafura (Walter Panas High School - New York) and Cole Schoenwetter (San Marcos High School - California) bring fantastic upside to a draft class that was dominated by high-floor talent.

These types of picks are oftentimes setup by choices made earlier in the draft. Adding LSU's Ty Floyd with the Competitive Balance pick at No. 32 and Arkansas's Hunter Hollan with the 74th pick in Round 3 should help the Reds save enough money in order to sign both Stafura and Schoenwetter away from their college commitments.

Stafura's potential is through the roof. The shortstop, whom MLB Pipeline ranked among their Top 40 draft eligible prospects, has great raw power and outstanding athleticism. In addition to Stafura and Schoenwetter, the Redlegs also added high schoolers Bernard Moon, Gabe Gaeckle, and Kyle Henley.

While all signs point to Gaeckle honoring his commitment to the University of Arkansas, if the Cincinnati Reds are able to sign at least one of Henley and Moon in addition to Stafura and Schoenwetter, the organization will have some outstanding, young talent in their farm system.

3. The Reds added experience on Day 2 of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Cincinnati sandwiched Arkansas pitcher Hunter Hollan around two high-upside high school players in Sammy Stafura and Cole Schoewetter, but Day 2 of the 2023 MLB Draft was, as it typically is, dominated by college players.

But aside from Hollan and a pair of left-handed hurlers (Logan Van Treek and Graham Osman) in Rounds 9 and 10, the Cincinnati Reds added a ton of college bats on the second day of the 2023 MLB Draft.

After adding Stafura and Shoenwetter to the young talent of Cam Collier, Sal Stewart, Jay Allen, and Alfredo Duno, the Reds needed some more mature and polished hitters added to the team's minor league system. Cincinnati did that with the additions of Ethan O'Donnell, Carter Graham, and Dominic Pitelli.

After watching Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and T.J. Hopkins all graduate to the major leagues this season, the Reds farm system is lacking when it comes to experienced hitters. In fact, outside of Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Logan Tanner, and Jose Torres, no position players among the Reds Top 30 prospects played college baseball.

The addition of these polished college bats will help to balance out the Reds farm system, the same way their pitching talent is balance. The addition of glove-first catching prospect Connor Burns won't hurt either.

dark. Next. 3 second-half predictions. 3 bold predictions for the 2nd-half of the Reds season

Home / Reds Draft