Nick Senzel

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #1 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: From the day he arrived at Tennessee, Senzel showed he was special. He batted cleanup for the Volunteers from his first game as a freshman, starred for three years there and in the Cape Cod League and became the highest drafted player in school history. Senzel’s fast track to the big leagues has been slowed by position switches and ailments. Vertigo ended his 2017 season early. With Eugenio Suarez signed to an extension, the Reds tried Senzel at shortstop and second base in spring training 2018 before junking the shortstop plan when he reported to Triple-A Louisville. A further bout of vertigo cost Senzel much of May. A torn ligament in his throwing hand ended his season in late June. Elbow surgery for bone spurs ruined plans to send him to the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: The Reds have moved Senzel around the field because they know his bat should play anywhere and he has the kind of easy athleticism that allows him to handle various defensive challenges. He features quick hands and a disciplined knowledge of the strike zone. A plus hitter, Senzel stays balanced with ease and stays short to the ball, allowing him to get the barrel on pitches in all areas of the strike zone. He makes consistent contact and has plus power that would profile at his natural position of third base. Senzel’s approach is aimed toward making hard contact to all fields. He is an above-average runner who runs the bases well. His good instincts and plus arm will be suited to play third base long term, but with that position manned by Suarez in Cincinnati, Senzel could pursue second base, center field or left field in the big leagues. He showed he can be at least an above-average defensive second baseman. Senzel tried both outfield spots at instructional league. His athleticism and understanding of the game should help him grow to be a solid defender at multiple positions.
  
  The Future: While the Reds will play it safe with Senzel and his injury-riddled past, he should be playing in Cincinnati before long. His maturity and advanced approach both offensively and defensively should allow him to have an immediate impact on the big league club. When the Reds non-tendered Billy Hamilton, Senzel’s path to an outfield job in 2019 cleared, but second base is a logical landing spot once Scooter Gennett’s contract expires after the 2019 season.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #1 prospect in 2018
  High expectations follow players drafted second overall, like Senzel, but even by those standards he has overachieved in his brief pro career. After a good start at low Class A Dayton in 2016, he jumped to high Class A Daytona in 2017 and earned a midseason promotion to Double-A Pensacola. Senzel performed better in the Southern League than he had in the Florida State League, particularly in terms of power production. He hit .340/.413/.560 with 10 home runs for the Blue Wahoos in 235 plate appearances. He finished the season on the disabled list with a bout of vertigo, but he reportedly began to feel better after returning home and resting. Scouts see plenty to like about Senzel from a tools standpoint, but those who have seen him time and again like the intangibles just as much. He runs hard, grinds out at-bats, takes extra bases, plays smart in the field and leads his team. He's not only the best player on the field but plays the hardest. That mentality is coupled with a good approach at the plate and a short, compact swing with good balance and bat speed, leading to high exit velocity off the bat. Opponents say they rarely see him get fooled, and he constantly barrels balls. While many questioned his power coming out of college, he has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Among his 10 Double-A homers were multiple shots to center field and the opposite field. Though not a prototypical burner, he still shows above-average speed to go with good instincts on the bases. Defensively, Senzel has shown the potential to be a plus defender at third with a strong, accurate arm that he has shown he can use on the run. He played shortstop and second base in addition to third base in college, but he has proven to be a quick study at third, working on his footwork with Pensacola bench coach Dick Schofield. With the emergence of Eugenio Suarez at third base in Cincinnati, the Reds don't feel rushed to promote Senzel to the big leagues. Still, they expect to have to make tough decisions in 2018, when Senzel will likely reach the big leagues. Both he and Suarez have shown defensive ability at third, but barring a trade, one of them could move to either second or a corner outfield spot. Senzel's versatily gives the Reds multiple options. Senzel will likely start 2018 at Triple-A Louisville, but he shouldn't be there too long.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #1 prospect in 2017
  All through his prep career at Farragut High in Knoxville, Senzel was never viewed as the star. Teammate Kyle Serrano drew the majority of the scouting attention, though the Reds' reports from that time did note they believed Senzel had a chance to become a very good player. But first, he needed to head to college. After three years at Tennessee, Senzel has now far surpassed Serrano as a prospect. As a junior in 2016, Senzel hit .352/.456/.595 with a Southeastern Conference-best 25 doubles while walking nearly twice as often as he struck out. He even stole 25 bases for the Volunteers. The Reds selected Senzel with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft and signed him for $6.2 million, the highest signing bonus for any member of the draft class and also the Reds' franchise record for a drafted player. He kept lining doubles as a pro, hitting 23 in 58 games at low Class A Dayton, where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Midwest League. Senzel was arguably the safest pick in the 2016 draft. Even scouts who aren't sold on him being an impact player see him as a polished college hitter who should move quickly. He has worked hard to develop into an above-average defender at third base, and even held his own in a stint at shortstop with Tennessee. Senzel has above-average short-range quickness thanks to quick hips. His hands are average, while his best asset defensively is his plus arm. Senzel's throws have plenty of carry, but they are even more notable for accuracy. He can throw from a variety of arm angles and doesn't need to set his feet to uncork an accurate throw. At the plate, Senzel is a hitter who sometimes drives the ball for power rather than a slugger who can hit. He stays balanced in his swing and has excellent pitch recognition, laying off tough breaking balls out of the zone while catching up to fastballs. His biggest vulnerability in his pro career has been when pitchers bust him up and in with fastballs, though he will yank the occasional inside pitch. All seven of his pro home runs were pulled to left field. He has average productive power, but he is more comfortable lining the ball from gap to gap. In batting practice he shows plus raw power. Senzel is a heady baserunner who has a knack for basestealing. He will turn singles into doubles by aggressively coming out of the batter's box and reading how outfielders play balls in the gaps. Senzel's long track record of production--he hit .300 or better in each of his three years at Tennessee and was the Cape Cod League MVP in 2015--makes scouts comfortable he will be a big league regular. The debate is just how much impact he will make. Senzel's excellent work ethic and surprising athleticism give him a chance to exceed some of those expectations. He projects as a .280-.290 hitter with 15-20 home runs, plenty of doubles and solid defense at third base. If he hits the high end of his projection, he is a plus hitter with plus power. Players with Senzel's type of hitting ability and strength sometimes exceed their power projections in the majors. He is ready for high Class A Daytona in 2017 and should reach Double-A Pensacola during the season. If all goes according to plan, Senzel should be competing for a job in Cincinnati by 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #6 prospect in 2016 draft
  Senzel comes from a lauded 2013 Tennessee high school class that included fellow top prospects Jordan Sheffield and Will Craig. Senzel played at the powerhouse program at Farragut High alongside Kyle Serrano, but he was not drafted out of high school. Senzel showed solid tools at the East Coast Pro showcase prior to his senior year, but was not a high priority player for scouts to evaluate in high school. After two years at Tennessee, Senzel's stock exploded last summer when he was the MVP of the Cape Cod League. His carrying tool is his righthanded bat. Senzel is a patient hitter with a mature approach and a swing that's geared up for line drives. He makes consistent hard contact in games and in batting practice. Senzel shows the ability to drive the ball with authority to the opposite field or to his pull-side gap. He hits more for doubles than home runs at this point, but he can show raw power in batting practice when he's asked to, leading some evaluators to believe that he will develop more game power as he continues to mature. This spring, Senzel has shown significantly improved defense in the infield, shifting to shortstop later in the season from third base. He reacts quickly and shows solid first-step quickness. Senzel has average arm strength and projects to stay in the left side of the infield. He runs well, with average speed down the line, but he has good baserunning instincts, allowing his speed to play even better.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #6 prospect in 2018
  Even with another season interrupted with health issues, Senzel’s hitting ability can’t be overlooked. He missed time early with vertigo, and a torn tendon in his right index finger cut short his season before the end of June. Senzel hit .310 with an .887 OPS when healthy, showing the ability to handle breaking balls and keep up with fastballs while demonstrating very few holes in his swing. Scouts like his approach, they just would like to see him on the field more often. “He has the ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark,” Durham manager Jared Sandberg said. “You see him handling all the pitches.” Senzel played more at second base this year, but he is a natural third baseman with a plus arm. He is also slated to see time in the outfield in instructional league.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #4 prospect in 2017
  The No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft, Senzel finished his first full season in Double-A after being one of the FSL's best hitters in the first half. His 26 doubles led the league at the time of his promotion, and he showed the bat pro scouts expected to see out of a player with his track record. Senzel has a handsy swing and aggressive approach, combined with present strength and pitch recognition that allows him to make consistent hard contact. The FSL somewhat suppressed his home runs production, which jumped at Double-A, and he should have above-average home run power. Scouts peg Senzel as an average defender at third base with good hands and arm strength, though he could improve his agility and lateral range.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #2 prospect in 2017
  The Reds plucked Senzel with the No. 2 pick in 2016 and paid him $6.2 million, the highest bonus in his draft class. Like most advanced college hitters, he adjusted quickly to Double-A in his full-season debut when he reached Pensacola in late June. The hard-nosed Senzel ranked fifth in the minors with 40 doubles. Questions about home-run output dogged Senzel in college, where he maxed out with eight as a junior, but he went on a power surge in the SL, smashing 10 in 57 games, including four deep drives to center and right-center field. With a simple, compact swing, exceptional balance and plus bat speed, he generates consistently high exit velocities off the barrel and will hit for a high average. Senzel brings the added dimensions of plus speed and athleticism to third base, where will be an above-average defender with a plus, accurate arm, even when throwing on the run. Pensacola coach Dick Schofield helped him improve his first-step quickness and footwork.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2016
  Senzel did not take a traditional path to becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the country. Undrafted out of high school, his stock surged at Tennessee and he signed with the Reds for $6.2 million, a bonus amount that topped all 2016 draft picks. The most polished college bat in his draft class, Senzel advanced quickly to Dayton and has an above-average hit tool and plus raw power that could show up in games as he adds loft to his line-drive-geared bat path. His power is presently solid-average. Senzel has shown in batting practice the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field and over the fence. He has above-average bat speed with leverage and above-average pitch recognition. Senzel has average speed but is an above-average baserunner with the ability to steal 15-20 bases, at least early in his career. He has average arm strength but enough to stick at third base, but his quickness and footwork allow for a move to second base, if necessary. Scouts laud him for his competitive makeup.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #9 prospect in 2017

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Senzel has hit everywhere he’s been since the Reds drafted him and was on the verge of reaching the majors just two years after being the No. 2 overall selection. But then, the injury bug hit. He suffered his second case of vertigo and missed most of May, and on June 26 he had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right index finger, ending his season after just 44 games. He performed when healthy, batting .310/.378/.509 while showing plus or better hit, power, arm and run tools, and he showed well at second base. Senzel will compete for a major league roster spot upon his return next year, and remains a cornerstone of the Reds future.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: High expectations follow players drafted second overall, like Senzel, but even by those standards he has overachieved in his brief pro career. After a good start at low Class A Dayton in 2016, he jumped to high Class A Daytona in 2017 and earned a midseason promotion to Double-A Pensacola. Senzel performed better in the Southern League than he had in the Florida State League, particularly in terms of power production. He hit .340/.413/.560 with 10 home runs for the Blue Wahoos in 235 plate appearances. He finished the season on the disabled list with a bout of vertigo, but he reportedly began to feel better after returning home and resting. Scouting Report: Scouts see plenty to like about Senzel from a tools standpoint, but those who have seen him time and again like the intangibles just as much. He runs hard, grinds out at-bats, takes extra bases, plays smart in the field and leads his team. He's not only the best player on the field but plays the hardest. That mentality is coupled with a good approach at the plate and a short, compact swing with good balance and bat speed, leading to high exit velocity off the bat. Opponents say they rarely see him get fooled, and he constantly barrels balls. While many questioned his power coming out of college, he has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Among his 10 Double-A homers were multiple shots to center field and the opposite field. Though not a prototypical burner, he still shows above-average speed to go with good instincts on the bases. Defensively, Senzel has shown the potential to be a plus defender at third with a strong, accurate arm that he has shown he can use on the run. He played shortstop and second base in addition to third base in college, but he has proven to be a quick study at third, working on his footwork with Pensacola bench coach Dick Schofield. The Future: With the emergence of Eugenio Suarez at third base in Cincinnati, the Reds don't feel rushed to promote Senzel to the big leagues. Still, they expect to have to make tough decisions in 2018, when Senzel will likely reach the big leagues. Both he and Suarez have shown defensive ability at third, but barring a trade, one of them could move to either second or a corner outfield spot. Senzel will likely start 2018 at Triple-A Louisville, but he shouldn't be there too long.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: All through his prep career at Farragut High in Knoxville, Senzel was never viewed as the star. His teammate Kyle Serrano drew the majority of the scouting attention, though the Reds' reports from that time did note that they believed Senzel would have a chance to become a very good player. But first he needed to head to college. After three years at Tennessee, Senzel has far surpassed Serrano as a prospect. As a junior in 2016 he hit .352/.456/.595 with a Southeastern Conference-best 25 doubles. The Reds selected Senzel with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft and signed him for $6.2 million, the highest bonus amount for any member of his draft class and also the record for a drafted player in franchise history. Scouting Report: Senzel was arguably the safest pick in the 2016 draft. Even scouts who aren't sold on him being an impact player see him as a polished college bat who should move quickly. He has worked hard to develop into an above-average defender at third base who even held his own in a stint at shortstop with Tennessee. Senzel has above-average short-range quickness thanks to quick hips. His hands are average. Defensively, his best asset is his plus arm. Senzel's throws have plenty of carry, but they are even more notable for accuracy. He can throw from a variety of arm angles and doesn't need to set his feet to uncork an accurate throw. At the plate, Senzel is a hitter who sometimes drives the ball for power rather than a slugger who can hit. He stays balanced in his swing and has excellent pitch recognition, laying off tough breaking balls out of the zone while catching up to fastballs. His biggest vulnerability in his pro career has been when pitchers bust him up and in with fastballs, though he will yank the occasional inside pitch. All seven of his pro home runs were pulled to left field. He has average productive power, but he is more comfortable lining the ball from gap to gap. In batting practice he shows plus raw power. Senzel is a heady baserunner who has a knack for basestealing. He will turn singles into doubles by aggressively coming out of the batter's box and reading how outfielders play balls in the gaps. The Future: Senzel's long track record of production--he hit .300 or better in each of his three years at Tennessee and was the Cape Cod League MVP in 2015--makes scouts comfortable that he will be a future big league regular. The debate is just how much impact he will make. Senzel's excellent work ethic and surprising athleticism give him a chance to exceed some of those expectations. He projects as a .280-.290 hitter with 15-20 home runs, plenty of doubles and solid defense at third base. If he hits the high end of his projection he's a plus hitter with plus power. Players with Senzel's type of hitting ability and strength sometimes exceed their power projections in the majors. He's ready for high Class A Daytona in 2017 and should reach Double-A Pensacola during the season. Senzel should be competing for a job in Cincinnati by 2018.