Jon Heyman reported earlier today that the Cincinnati Reds were contemplating calling up their top prospect Nick Senzel.
Reds are contemplating promoting top prospect Nick Senzel to the majors and are expected to do so soon, possibly even when the team returns home Friday. Has adjusted nicely to CF. Big-time hitting talent who was No. 2 overall pick in 2016 draft.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 30, 2019
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com tweeted this out about an hour later. He also confirmed via a source that the move is happening.
Expect to see top #Reds prospect Nick Senzel in Cincinnati at the start of the next homestand on Friday. No. 5 overall prospect came back from ankle sprain a week ago. https://t.co/lq9gJqZAd6
— Jonathan Mayo (@JonathanMayo) April 30, 2019
Last night saw Nick Senzel homer for the first time this season, and go 3-6 with 4 runs scored for the Louisville Bats. It was hit 6th game of the season in Triple-A for the Reds center field prospect after returning from an ankle injury that he suffered late in the spring after being sent down to minor league camp.
There are a lot of reasons that the organization would call up Nick Senzel. He’s ready to play in the Major Leagues and help the team win right now. His bat has been ready since this point last season. Defensively, he moved to the outfield last offseason. During the spring manager David Bell said he was the best defender the team had in center field. Yet when he was sent down the front office was sure to note that it was because of his lack of playing time in the outfield. Apparently a week was enough to figure it out.
While it seemed pretty obvious to many that Nick Senzel should have been the option in center out of the spring, the job went to Scott Schebler. He hit the cover off of the ball during his time in Goodyear, but he’s also hit .135 with a .516 OPS since the season began. If there’s another option available to play center, it’s probably time to start considering that option. And for the Reds, that is Senzel.
The bench is currently constructed of Curt Casali at catcher, Phillip Ervin, Derek Dietrich, and Kyle Farmer. Casali isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Dietrich. That means that the options could come down to either Phillip Ervin, who would be a potential 5th outfielder off of the bench, Kyle Farmer who can play a little bit of everywhere, or Scott Schebler to be sent down to Louisville to make room on the 25-man roster for Nick Senzel.
With regards to the 40-man roster move, that one seems a bit simpler. Both Alex Blandino and Scooter Gennett are still injured. The timetable on Blandino being ready hasn’t been stated much. For Gennett it seems that he will certainly be out until at least June. Sliding him to the 60-day disabled list opens up a 40-man spot until he’s ready to return, and gives the team a spot for Senzel without needing to designate anyone for assignment.
Peraza–.524 OPS (1 stinking walk all season)
Schebler—.516 OPS (14 walks)
Peraza is arguably far more deserving to be sent down, especially when considering his swing % on pitches outside the zone paired with the non-existent walk totals.
The Reds have two 60 day DL candidates so call up VanMeter while they’re at it. If this organization is as serious as they claim about culture change and staying in this race then they have to take a firmer stance on non-performance than they have in the past. It shouldn’t matter how many sets of tires they go through on the Louisville shuttle!
If anyone should be sent down its Schebler. Looks like his days are numbered either way.
Great news.
‘Bout time. I think the kid will rake.
Could he split time spelling both Peraza and Schebler? Whatever to get his bat in there regularly while those to knuckleheads try to get right?
I think that’s a good idea as well. Of course, Senzel is my SS yesterday if I were calling the shots.
I like it WVRedlegs.Might as well shuffle the deck some and lets see what happens.
Agreed. Schebler and Duke are a drain.
I know this is probably not the popular idea around here but really, it is Ervin that needs to be sent down simply for the make up of the bench. If Schebler gets sent down then our bench consists of Casalli, Farmer, Ervin and one of Dietrich, Perazaor Iglesias. That means the only LH bat we have on the bench is Derek and we would not have that when he starts.
Ervin needs to play and he is not going to play much when Senzel gets here. (He’s not playing much now). Schebler can hit he has shown that in the past,. He has also shown in the past that he can come off the bench. And presently he has shown some plate discipline. That needs to be the choice.
Farmer has greater versatility so I think he stays up until Scooter comes back hopefully in a month or so. The fly in the ointment is Kemp. what oh what do we do with him. I know I have my idea.
Agree on Ervin being sent down. Also think via assist from Redlegs board that it will be Wood who goes to the 60 day IL. It was reported yesterday that he was seeking second opinion on his back problem.
While adding Trammell you need to subtract Puig and Scooter as they both will be playing elsewhere
Unfortunately they are all idiots
So, this means Schebler is about to go on a 3 game tear. Win-win!
This looks good. Peraza,Winker, Suarez, Votto, Puig, Senzel, Casali/TB ( yes Casali first),Iggy. Schebler, DD, Ervin and Farmer off the bench. When Kemp retuns DFA and move on from that. Scooter’s return causes a bigger issue for starters and the bench. Things are looking up. Just hope the pitching holds until then.
how expensive is a plane ticket to new york?
Where did VanMeter come from? I noticed his name in games all the way until the very end of ST. Was thinking it was odd he hadn’t been reassigned. They must be high on this guy and he’s playing well in Louisville.
Just curious and this is not making fun of anyone but we have the 10 day Injured list. “IL”
Is the 60 day still called disabled list? just curious on that. Like I said not trying to make fun of anyone or be mean. I actually want to know the answer to this.