Headlines

  • Yankees Sign Matt Carpenter To Major League Contract
  • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings
  • Alex Reyes To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
  • Counsell: Freddy Peralta To Miss “Significant” Time
  • Dodgers Extend Blake Treinen
  • Brewers To Place Freddy Peralta On Injured List Due To Shoulder Tightness
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reds Promote Nick Senzel

By Steve Adams | May 3, 2019 at 9:40am CDT

The Reds announced that they have selected the contract of Nick Senzel, making the promotion of one of baseball’s premier prospects official. Senzel will join the active roster in place of right-hander Matthew Bowman, who has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster, Cincinnati transferred Scooter Gennett from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Senzel is in today’s lineup, batting second.

Nick Senzel | Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

There’s been a sense that this move was coming since earlier in the week when MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported the possibility, which has built a steady sense of anticipation among Reds fans in recent days. Senzel, the No. 2 overall pick in 2016, entered the season ranked as one of the top 10 overall prospects in baseball and has sufficiently recovered from the late-March ankle injury that sidelined him. He’s not off to a blistering start in Triple-A by any means, hitting .257/.316/.371, but he’s generally been viewed as an MLB-ready bat despite that tiny eight-game sample.

Drafted as an infielder, he’s moved to the outfield in order to fast-track his arrival on the MLB roster, and he should step directly into the Reds’ everyday center field role, hopefully jump-starting what has been a stagnant offensive unit of outfielders. Scouting reports on Senzel laud his potential for above-average tool across the board, including a 65- or even 70-grade hit tool. He’s walked at a solid clip throughout his minor league career and has never had a major issue with strikeouts over a large sample, suggesting that he has the discipline to complement that hit tool and serve as a middle-of-the-order bat for years to come.

A career .312/.388/.508 hitter with 28 homers and 40 steals in 239 minor league games, Senzel should provide an upgrade over Scott Schebler in center, as the 28-year-old Schebler has slumped to a woeful .127/.258/.228 slash to open the season. There will be some growing pains on the defensive side of things, as Senzel only began playing the outfield in game settings this spring and has been sidelined for a bit this year. He was originally slated to get his feet wet in center field during the Arizona Fall League last year, but he instead required surgery to remove a pair of bone spurs from his left (non-throwing) elbow. That capped off a frustrating, injury-filled year for Senzel, who also missed time due to vertigo symptoms and a fractured finger.

The Reds has already reassigned Senzel to minor league camp when he incurred the aforementioned ankle injury, meaning he was destined for Triple-A to start the year. However, the ankle issue sidelined him long enough that there was never any question about whether he’d accrue enough service time in 2019 to reach free agency as quickly as possible. Senzel can’t earn more than 151 days of MLB service in 2019, meaning the Reds effectively control him for seven years rather than six. Assuming he’s in the big leagues for good, Senzel will be arbitration-eligible as a Super Two player following the 2021 season and won’t be a free agent until the 2025-26 offseason.

It remains to be seen just how the Senzel promotion will impact playing time for the rest of the Reds’ outfielders. Jesse Winker is the only one of the incumbent bunch who has been at all productive to this point in the season (.224/.315/.490), while each of Schebler, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig has struggled. Puig still figures to see the lion’s share of at-bats in right field, given his age and track record, which could largely relegate Kemp and Schebler to pinch-hitting and occasional starts based on platoon matchups.

Share 0 Retweet 5 Send via email0

Cincinnati Reds Newsstand Top Prospect Promotions Transactions Matthew Bowman Nick Senzel Scooter Gennett

AL Central Notes: Boyd, Indians, Mize, Sox, Cease
Main
Cubs Reinstate Oscar De La Cruz, Transfer Tony Barnette To 60-Day IL
View Comments (29)

Comments

  1. nathanalext

    3 years ago

    Welcome to Rapture Day! The Savior has arrived!

    Reply
  2. amcferron85

    3 years ago

    I hope they send Scott Schebler down to AAA. He has been HORRIBLE and I am a Schebler fan. He needs to figure things out somewhere else (AAA).

    Reply
  3. Ironman_4life

    3 years ago

    They have about 1% chance of playoffs next few years. Bring up the youngsters and let them play.

    Reply
    • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

      3 years ago

      I’d guess they’re hoping bringing him up has a double benefit – playing time in MLB, of course, and maybe letting underperforming vets know that nobody is safe.

      Reply
    • Joeyjoejoe

      3 years ago

      Despite the start to the season, this offense is pretty solid. With their pitchers under contract for 2020 and beyond, they have a solid core. I am not sure that 1% chance is accurate beyond this season with the rough start.

      Reply
      • Kotton

        3 years ago

        1% is just pure nonsense. They are good enough to make the playoffs. Their pitching has been fantastic, and eventually, the offense should be even better.

        Will they make the playoffs? Maybe not. But to say the chance is 1% is pathetic. If you don’t like the Reds, just say so.

        Reply
        • tout.pret

          3 years ago

          It’s actually 5.6%. Which still makes them crap

  4. hook316

    3 years ago

    Kemp will be dealt, right? Reds will eat a lot of the $$.

    Reply
    • Joeyjoejoe

      3 years ago

      He’ll be dropped.

      Reply
      • ray714

        3 years ago

        Dropped to a AL team.. probably a terrible AL team.

        Reply
    • mstrchef13

      3 years ago

      What should they expect to get for a guy with a .500 OPS, awful defense, and a $21 million contract?

      Reply
  5. jayfaraday

    3 years ago

    We’re in a new era of superstars, man I love baseball

    Reply
    • RunDMC

      3 years ago

      I was dying for Senzel to drop to ATL in the draft. Don’t wish many Volunteers well, but I hope he sends many into the seats.

      Reply
    • hiflew

      3 years ago

      No, we are in a new era of anointing superstars before they ever do anything to earn the status. But I love baseball too.

      Reply
  6. halofanatic

    3 years ago

    Any chance the writers can link the highlighted players scouting report in the articles?

    Reply
    • WiseCounsell

      3 years ago

      You could have googled 10 different scouting reports in the time it took you to type that.

      Reply
      • southbeachbully

        3 years ago

        Nope. I tried. Only two, And I type fassssssst.

        Reply
  7. GarryHarris

    3 years ago

    I was hoping Gennett would return soon. I guess he’s out the season?

    Reply
    • Steve Adams

      3 years ago

      Moving Gennett to the 60-day IL doesn’t impact his timeline. It’s not 60 days from now — it just ups the minimum stay on the IL for him from 10 to 60 days. He’s already nearly 40 days into his IL stint.

      The initial projection on him was 8-12 weeks, so it’s not a surprise to see him moved to the 60.

      Reply
      • TreyMancini

        3 years ago

        So why wasn’t he on the 60-day DL in the first place? Sorry if that’s a stupid question.

        Reply
        • Steve Adams

          3 years ago

          No reason to put him there until they need the 40-man spot. Pretty much no team moves a guy to the 60-day until they need the 40-man spot for a corresponding move.

        • baldimur

          3 years ago

          They probably didn’t need the 40 man roster spot until now. I don’t think you can put someone on the 60 day unless you’re adding someone else to take his 40 man spot.

        • batty

          3 years ago

          FO’s try to hold back spots on the 60 in case a move needs to be made. Such as adding a player to the 40/25 man rosters, via trade or promotion. A player can remain on the 10 day IL well past the 10 days.

  8. rodcannon

    3 years ago

    Getting Kemp and Puig was the price the Reds paid for dumping Homer Bailey’s contract. I doubt if the Reds were ever excited about either of those two and doubt if either will still be a Red by beginning of next season.

    Reply
    • GarryHarris

      3 years ago

      I think the Reds try to move Puig mid season.

      Reply
      • PopeMarley

        3 years ago

        Nobody wants Puig.

        Reply
  9. DarkSide830

    3 years ago

    how the Reds OF became just as pitiful as it is is beyond me. This is certianly a well-needed boost.

    Reply
    • joeshmoe11

      3 years ago

      Puig and Winker are severely underperforming compared to their peripherals so you’d have to believe they will start producing. Winker has a . 200 BABIP right now. Those 2 plus Senzel should receive the bulk of playing time for the rest of the season

      Reply
  10. kennonr

    3 years ago

    I hope Nick can stay healthy, it seems like he’s had his fair share of setbacks. Best wishes.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Yankees Sign Matt Carpenter To Major League Contract

    2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings

    Alex Reyes To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

    Counsell: Freddy Peralta To Miss “Significant” Time

    Dodgers Extend Blake Treinen

    Brewers To Place Freddy Peralta On Injured List Due To Shoulder Tightness

    Mariners Sign Justin Upton

    Chad Green To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Orioles Promote Adley Rutschman

    Luis Gil To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Carter Kieboom To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Cardinals To Promote Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore; Tyler O’Neill To IL

    Max Scherzer Likely Out Six To Eight Weeks Due To Oblique Strain

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks

    Recent

    Diamondbacks Reinstate Cooper Hummel

    Marlins Announce Series Of Roster Moves

    MLB, MLBPA Agree To Extend 14-Pitcher Limit Through June 19

    Angels Select Juan Lagares, Designate Mike Mayers

    White Sox Place Joe Kelly On IL With Hamstring Strain

    Ildemaro Vargas Elects Free Agency

    Cardinals Place Jordan Hicks On IL With Forearm Strain

    Guardians Designate Yu Chang, Select Oscar Gonzalez

    Royals Place Amir Garrett, Kyle Isbel On Injured List

    Yankees Sign Matt Carpenter To Major League Contract

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Story Rumors
    • Frankie Montas Rumors
    • Michael Conforto Rumors
    • Arbitration Tracker
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version