Reds fans will either laugh or cry at latest twist in Nick Senzel disaster

Imagine being told by a team that just lost its 100th game of the season — in August — that they no longer need you. That's the cold reality that's setting in on Nick Senzel after he was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Most Reds fans will remember that Senzel began the 2024 season with the Washington Nationals. The Cincinnati Reds non-tendered Senzel last fall and the former University of Tennessee alum latched on with the Nats and was handed the starting job at third base.

Reds Country will also remember that, in an ironic twist, Senzel was injured during pregame warmups on Opening Day and missed the opportunity to take the field against his former team. Senzel was placed on the injured list — something that happened with regularity during his time in Cincinnati — and rejoined the Nationals active roster in mid-April.

Reds fans will either laugh or cry at latest twist in Nick Senzel disaster

But Senzel's time in our nation's capital was rather brief. The Nats released Senzel shortly after the Fourth of July and he was picked up by the White Sox. Senzel had just three hits during his time on the South Side of Chicago and the White Sox were 0-10 in the games in which Senzel took the field. The former first-round pick hit just .100/.129/.133 in 32 plate appearances.

While it's never appropriate to laugh at someone's misfortune, Senzel's tenure in the Queen City was marked by constant disappointment. The infielder, turned outfielder, was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft and never lived up to the hype.

Senzel was dogged by injuries throughout his entire Reds' career. The ailments started during his time in the minor leagues and only got worse from there. Senzel ended three of this first four seasons on the IL, and was optioned back to the minor league at one point last season because of poor production.

Senzel has a ton of raw talent, but it's always been challenging for the 29-year-old to maximize those God-given gifts. Here's hoping that Senzel finds another team willing to take him on over the final few weeks of the 2024 season, but you have to assume that he's running out of time to prove that he can play at the highest level.

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