Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder is the Reds safest pick in Round 1 of 2023 MLB Draft

The Cincinnati Reds are likely to draft a pitcher with the No. 7 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. One such hurler who has been tied to the Reds in multiple mock drafts is Wake Forest ace, Rhett Lowder.

Lowder, who is arguably the most polished pitcher in the class, would bring the Reds one of the best pitchers in the country outside of LSU's Paul Skenes. If the Reds are looking to play it safe in Round 1, Lowder should be the selection.

Chase Dollander is another name that's been tossed about by scouts, but a poor showing in 2023 following an A-plus performance in 2022 has the Tennessee pitcher falling down draft boards.

Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder is the Reds safest pick in Round 1 of 2023 MLB Draft.

There is almost no world that one of Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes, or Wyatt Langford make it to the Cincinnati Reds at pick No. 7. These three prospects should be the only three players that the Reds would prefer over Rhett Lowder.

Lowder would provide the Reds with a polished pitcher, similar to the mold of Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott. College pitchers in general are much easier to project in terms of their ceiling and their floor. High school arms, on the other hand, could turn into Hunter Greene or Robert Stephenson.

Lowder specifically offers a high floor because of his advanced control and off-speed pitches. Lowder's changeup is a plus-pitch according to MLB Pipeline. The right-hander's heater is no slouch either, as it consistently sits in the low-to-mid 90's.

Lowder ranks fifth in NCAA Division I baseball with a 1.99 ERA and has continuously led the top ranked Wake Forest team to win after win. Lowder continues to show how polished he is with his sub 1.000 WHIP and 137 strikeouts compared to just 22 walks.

Whether the Cincinnati Reds select Rhett Lowder is yet to be determined, but one thing is known already. Going with the assurance of a college arm versus the upside of a high school hurler is certainly the safer option. If that's the Reds strategy, then Lowder's their guy.