Jud Fabian could be the perfect selection for the Reds at No. 32 in the 2022 MLB Draft

Florida outfielder Jud Fabian turned down over $2M from the Boston Red Sox last year after being taken with the 40th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft. Fabian won't have that same leverage this season, but the talent is still there. The Cincinnati Reds should target Fabian with their compensatory pick.

Fabian was dinged last year for his high number of strikeouts. Fabian was ranked as the 23rd-best prospect heading into last year's draft according to MLB Pipeline, but this year, the 21-year-old enters the draft as the 52nd-ranked prospect.

Keith Law of The Athletic (subscription required) sees Fabian a bit more favorably, ranking the Florida Gator 47th among those draft eligible prospects this season.

Jud Fabian could be the perfect selection for the Reds at No. 32 in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Jud Fabian improved in almost facet of his game during the 2022 season. Fabian slashed .239/.414/.598 with 24 home runs and 55 RBIs. The biggest number was the 69 strikeouts which was down from the 79 times that Fabian went down on strikes in 2021.

Fabian isn't a burner, but he has enough speed to stick in center field. Most of the Cincinnati Reds current outfield prospects are better suited for a corner spot and not so much up the middle. Mike Siani might be Cincinnati's best center field prospect, but his hit tool lags behind his impressive defensive skills.

The University of Florida has a nice track record of producing some top-notch major league talent. Last year's National League Rookie of the Year and Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India played for the Gators and so did New York Mets All-Star Pete Alonso.

If the Cincinnati Reds land an uber-talented prep player at No. 18, then snagging a steady college player like Jud Fabian would be a fantastic addition to the team's farm system. Fabian will almost assuredly be available for the Reds at No. 32 and could still be there when Cincinnati makes their selection in Round 2.