Nick Senzel Exceeds Expectations

Best Player: 3B Nick Senzel

Senzel faced high expectations as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, but he actually outperformed those expectations. He hit .321/.391/.514 with 14 home runs, 40 doubles and 65 RBIs at high Class A Daytona and Double-A Pensacola.

“Offensively, he did everything that we could have hoped for,” farm director Jeff Graupe said.

Senzel’s power surged at Double-A with 10 home runs in 57 games, including four deep drives to center or right-center field. He missed the final week of the season and the Southern League playoffs with vertigo symptoms, but the Graupe said he’s doing better and doesn’t anticipate it being a long-term concern.

Best Pitcher: RHP Tyler Mahle

The younger brother of the Angels’ Greg Mahle, the 22-year-old made his big league debut in August. Mahle started the season in Double-A Pensacola, where he went 7-3, 1.59 in 14 starts.

While fellow Pensacola rotation-mate Luis Castillo was promoted to the big leagues, Mahle went to Triple-A Louisville instead. There he continued to succeed, recording a 2.73 ERA in 10 starts.

While Mahle can dial the fastball up to the mid-90s, it’s his command that has been his calling card through the minors. In 144.1 minor league innings this season, he struck out 130 with just 29 unintentional walks. He also pitched a perfect game for Pensacola in April on just 89 pitches.

“Tyler raises the bar every year,” Graupe said. “His physical stuff, his ability to compete—he’s the most consistent pitcher we have in the system.”

Keep An Eye On: LHP Scott Moss

Moss was the fourth Florida pitcher taken in the 2016 draft when the Reds took him in the fourth round. He went off the board behind the likes of A.J. Puk, Dane Dunning and Logan Shore after pitching just 23 innings for the Gators in three years in Gainesville. Moss was sidelined his first two years after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Moss made 10 starts at Rookie-level Billings in 2016 and was assigned to low Class A Dayton where he spent all of 2017. He went 13-6, 3.45 in 135.2 innings in 26 starts for the Dragons.

“The biggest thing for Scott was to get through the season and get the workload,” Graupe said. “Next year we’ll see performance will dictate level a little more. He went out and was extremely consistent. He pitches with a good mix and attacks batters. You’ll see a bigger fastball next year.”