Two of Tim Corbin’s brightest recruits might not ever make it to campus after being selected early in the 2016 MLB Draft. 352 this season with a career best eight home runs.
Advertisement
The Cincinnati Reds have selected Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel with the second overall pick in the MLB Draft.
The No. 2 pick has an allotted bonus value of ,762,900. Okey was the No. 43 overall pick, Clemson’s highest overall pick since 2012 (Richie Shaffer). Baseball America’s latest mock draft has the Phillies passing on him and drafting outfielder Mickey Moniak instead, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Puk winds up falling into the Reds’ lap at No. 2.
Senzel and Perez represented the pair of upper-tier infield prospects in this year’s draft, though Senzel is a more polished product than the 17-year old Perez and doesn’t come with the baggage of a failed drug test.
“We think his power will improve the more he plays”.
In May, Senzel was named an All-SEC second team and SEC all-defensive selection after posting a career year on Rocky Top in 2016, hitting. 595 and stole 25 bases. Senzel appeared to keep a poker face until the announcement was made, when his father jumped to his feet with arms raised. Senzel has worked hard to become a benefit to his team in the field, and has been moved from designated hitting and second base duties to the hot corner as a result. Lewis put those concerns to rest when he too starred in the Cape Cod league last summer, slashing.300/.344/.500 and launching seven dingers.
Advertisement
Because he didn’t start playing baseball until his senior year of high school, he went unnoticed by most of the state’s bigger programs.
