Reds finalize 2025 draft pool while stubborn strategy continues to frustrate fans

The 2025 MLB Draft is a still a few months away, but team executives are undoubtedly burning the midnight oil as they rummage through scouting reports and watch endless loops of video in search of their next top prospect. The Cincinnati Reds hold the No. 9 overall selection this year, and they now know how much money they'll have to play with as they set their draft board heading into the summer.

The Reds will enter the 2025 MLB Draft with $11,836,800 to spend. For those unfamiliar with the process, each team is allotted a specific "bonus pool" that takes into account the assigned value of each draft pick from Rounds 1-10. There's negotiating room for teams and players to sign above or below-slot value. Teams who are able to find some "bargain" talent at below-slot value can then use the money they've saved to offer bigger contracts to other top-flight prospects.

The Reds handed out a record-breaking deal to pitcher Chase Burns last summer. Burns set the mark for the biggest bonus ever signed at $9.25 million, though that number is likely to be surpassed this summer by the Washington Nationals' No. 1 pick. The question for Reds fans, of course, is who will be Cincinnati's first-round pick? If their recent track record is any indication, Reds fans may not like the results.

Reds finalize 2025 draft pool while stubborn strategy continues to frustrate fans

The Reds employ what they believe to be a tried-and-true strategy when it comes to drafting players. Cincinnati's front office targets up-the-middle, athletic prospects regardless of need. That's not necessarily an bad game plan, and has served them well in the past. The Reds have acquired players like the aforementioned right-hander Burns, along with Rhett Lowder, Matt McLain, and Nick Lodolo using that line of thinking.

But fans have grown increasingly frustrated with this strategy of late, and their fury boiled over last season after Cincinnati passed on University of Georgia slugger Charlie Condon in favor of Burns. Condon had just crushed 37 homers for the Bulldogs that season, and Cincinnati fans desperately wanted to see the Reds' front office add an impact bat with the No. 2 overall pick. Instead, Nick Krall and Co. went with the high-velocity hurler in Burns.

Based on the early results, the Reds may have gotten it right. Burns is soaring up through the Reds farm system while Condon is languishing away in the Northwest League. The Rockies top prospect has just one home run and 34 strikeouts on the year, suggesting he'll need a lot of work before climbing his way up through the Colorado pipeline.

Don't expect Cincy's strategy to change this year. The Reds are likely to target a shortop, catcher, center fielder, or pitcher with the No. 9 overall pick. Some names to keep an eye on are Liam Doyle (Tennessee), Marek Houston (Wake Forest), and Eli Willets (Fort Cobb-Broxton High School).

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