With the #2 pick in the draft, the Reds selected pitcher Hunter Greene from Notre Dame high school in Sherman Oaks, California.
Draft: Reds select RHP Hunter Greene in First Round
With the #2 pick in the draft, the Reds selected pitcher Hunter Greene from Notre Dame high school in Sherman Oaks, California.
Awesome to be able to get Greene. Quite an interesting development with Lewis going 1-1, but I like this a bit better than taking McKay.
Greene also was very well spoken and seems to have a strong family background. If the pitching doesn’t work out he’ll probably end up at 3B with his size and arm. If it does, we’ve at least got another good hitting pitcher like Lorenzen. Not a Mat Latos train wreck. He really should have gone #1 so not complaining about him falling to us! Noticed McKay didn’t look happy to be drafted as a 1B by the Rays, think he wanted to pitch.
No, that’s just McKay. His personality makes Joey Votto look exciting and dynamic.
People love saying “well spoken” when they’re referring to an African American that doesn’t sound like they expect them to. You likely didn’t do this on purpose, but I’ve seen this phrase used for the third time now on three different sites speaking about Hunter Greene.
Greene was much more polished and mature than all of the caucasian players so far selected in the draft. He make McKay look like an 8th grader. Had Greene been caucasian some folks would say the only players who get credited for sounding mature are caucasian and this disrespects everyone else. Let’s give Greene credit. He sounds mature no mater what color he is and that’s a credit to him and his parents.
I typically tend to agree with this, and I’m sure there is some of that with Greene. For the most part, though, I think people are surprised at how well spoken he is at his age. I’ve not known many 18 or 19 year olds that are as polished and reflective as he comes across.
Or when talking about a 17 year old kid like don’t they expect them to.
I’m just glad they didn’t take McKay. Greene looks like he could be pretty good if his secondary stuff develops.
Gonna regret not taking MCKay – he is polished and the real deal – not saying Hunter can’t be. McKay is a bulldog on the mound and knows how to pitch. I witnessed it firsthand in super regional this weekend in Louisville against Kentucky. You can’t teach intestinal fortitude, and he’s got a lot of it !
All of those traits, albeit except for polished, about Green as well. It’s easy to say we (myself and the mouse in my pocket) should’ve taken McKay. He’ll be in the majors, in all likelihood, 2-3 season sooner than Green. But, Mickey and I (my mouse) see a much higher ceiling with Green.
Only time will tell.
I hoped they would get Greene. He seems to have the right make-up and physical gifts.
A good omen since Sherman Oaks was the home of Sparky Anderson.
Problem with that analogy was that Sparky Anderson was a terrible baseball player.
Sorry, but no. You’re confusing Sherman Oaks with Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks is not even in Los Angeles County, but 45 miles west of Sherman Oaks.
it was thousand oaks, not sherman. about fifty miles apart.
Really like this pick. High profile, instant top 10 MLB prospect.
I like this pick. Any questions about signability?
I don’t think it will be a problem, because I’m sure the Reds brass made sure he would sign before he was picked . He’s also very excited to be drafted by the Reds and said he looks forward to getting his career started and fulfill the dream he’s had since he was 7. His work ethic and character are off the charts !
Excellent. I figured they had done their homework. It does seem that high picks out of high school are going unsigned less often in recent years, but this is still reassuring. Thanks Jennifer.
Only 2 picks in the first 10 rounds didn’t sign last year. Teams make sure before they pull the trigger. The 2 that didn’t sign likely had something to do with something that came up in the physical after they were drafted.
I read a baseball weekly over the weekend and they were talking about how Mark Trumbo was drafted as a pitcher but obviously fell back on his hitting. Its my understanding this kid would be a top 5 pick as a hitter as well but it looks like he’ll get too big to play shortstop.
“…has been part of MLB’s developmental program for a decade, first going to the Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., at the age of 7…”really…geeezzz. The MLB is planting seedlings that early now? How unromantic. Young arm throwing 102 MPH…hope his mechanix are good. Not trying to be a downer.
Ok, now we can finally trade Senzel and Greene for Giancarlo Stanton!!!
That’s funny – you’re spending too much time on this site!
Hey, Greene was considered a generational talent. We all would prefer a killer hitter, along the lines of recent SS or Bryant or Correa or such, but this is the killer pitcher of that type.
I am just glad the Reds took the (far and away) consensus best prospect in this draft. Maybe Lewis turns out great for the Twins, but how any team can pass on the pure upside of a Greene is bewildering.
I know most pundits (and baseball folk) think a two way player should focus on one thing, but I hope they allow this kid to play some in the field for a year or two. I can see why if they don’t, but would be nice to see if this is a really good pitcher that turns out to be a stud hitter…never know.
The supplement pick of the SS from Florida, well, I know nothing about him, but most “lists” had him down in the 50s or 60s, maybe because he is short? I hope it’s a diamond in the rough the scouts loved but sure seems like an overdraft based on consensus. In 5 years, maybe he is a top 5 player from this draft, but right now a bit underwhelming.
Compliments of Reds scouting department … go figure. Didn’t they just pay 6 million to sign a shortstop from Cuba recently ? Why draft another this high ?????
A baseball organization consists of hundred(s) of players at more than a half dozen playing levels
I think they’ll find room for two 18 year old shortstops
Kid has arm to slide to third.
MLB Pipeline had him 38. And really 25-75 is all pretty close.
Yeah, I found more flattering summaries of him after I posted. He isn’t exactly short at 5’11” just not 6’2″ like those drafted around him, but the reports are he can do everything well and has solid MLB power upside. Seems like a reasonable pick as I read more.
Maybe he’s Taylor or Gruler, or maybe he’s Dwight Gooden. More likely, something in between. I like to maintain realistic expectations as well, but let’s not be unduly pessimistic.
Our top 20 is very strong, then a bit of a fall off after that. I think we’ll be a top 5 farm system heading into next year though.
I get not having a good initial reaction to picks, but the Reds scouts have seen these guys place 1000x more than we have.
I agree with this. Don’t want ANOTHER plodder like Winker that is destined to play 1B or DH if he can hit enough to get there.
I’d rather have 20 SS in the organization playing SS, 3B, 2B and OF than 20 plodding 1B sluggers wrecking defense in OF, 3B or elsewhere.
Also, having one or two good SS doesn’t mean you shouldn’t draft another. Baseball is more like hockey in this regard and not at all like NFL or NBA. Injuries and years of minor league ball mean there is a strong possibility none of those SS blocking a draftee now will even be a top 20 team prospect in two years. Better to have three MLB ready SS than none.
Based on history Greene is a huge risk. About 10% of the pitchers picked in the top 5 make it to the big leagues and there are only 2 or 3 who have turned out to be stars. The odds are long for this pick to be a success. That said, the Reds had to draft him. His potential is enormous despite not pitching since April. If he can learn command, sustain a repeatable delivery, continue to develop his maturing body, and avoid elbow and shoulder injuries he will have a chance. The next 3-4 years will be a challenging period for Greene and the Reds development program. Based on potential he has the highest upside for any player ever drafted by the Reds but he is far from a sure thing.
“That said, the Reds had to draft him.”
Exactly. I would have been okay I guess with any of the other top 5 players, but if Greene truly is a generational talent, you simply forget the risks and do it. It’s not like college pitchers and hitters aren’t risks too, just less so.
I’d rather have the upside early in the draft than some safe pick that becomes a 4.00 ERA innings eater.
Per John Fay (via Doug at RML):
https://twitter.com/johnfayman/status/874431993592918017
I like that plan a lot.
Makes sense. He is plenty athletic enough to resume fielding at SS if pitching goes awry early on…and he’ll be practicing fielding as a pitcher anyway.
He seems to like baseball and very wise for his age. It’s not easy to sound like a 30 year old smoothy at 17.
Lewis also seems well spoken and loves baseball.
Many that bust do so because they lack desire or love of baseball. I think the top two picks are good picks. I like Wright more now that I read up on him, but we got a fast bust with that UVA college pitcher, so taking Greene and buying the medium risk (HS) lottery ticket makes sense. While many get labeled future ace, Greene seems like he fits that label much better than any other pitcher in the draft and SP1+ potential.
No doubt. I just hope that if they sign him and he looks good right away, they don’t piss around and play the ole one level a year promotion crap. If he can mow em down in rookie or wherever, move him up to low A and if he he mows em down there, start next year in low A and move him up to high A by June if he is mowing and end the year in AA (assuming good results).
If he is good enough at 19 or 20 to be in MLB, then HAVE him in MLB. If he isn’t then don’t, but don’t follow some silly script that has a 5 or 6 or 7 year plan if it isn’t required.
The old Mike Trout argument where I am all but certain the Reds would have him rising steadily, playing in high A or AA when the Angels had him as CF all-star already.
Hope so.