Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel is coming off of what is probably a disappointing year for himself. Injuries cost him the second half of the year that would have almost assuredly seen him reach the Major Leagues. He missed a few weeks earlier in the year with a bout of vertigo. Then on June 22nd he would injure his finger on a relay throw and would miss the rest of the season amid the hottest of hot streaks. Over the previous two weeks he had hit .440/.462/.720 with seven extra-base hits.
Nick Senzel would require surgery on his finger, but he was expected to be ready for instructional league. That’s when he would first start to see time in the outfield. The plan was for the Reds to try to find a way to get him into the lineup. Following that, he was supposed to go to the Arizona Fall League. That didn’t work out as he opted for surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow.
All of that led to earlier today. That’s when the Cincinnati Reds top prospect took swings for the first time since surgery according to his video posted on instagram. He wasn’t facing live pitching, but he was in the cage hitting off of a tee.
It’s been a long offseason for Nick Senzel. Following the surgery he remained in Goodyear to rehab at the Cincinnati Reds complex. He’s been there all offseason, too. Some of that time has been spent working in the outfield, where big league manager David Bell recently had a chance to see him play. It’s been a non-stop offseason, making one wonder what the word “off” actually means. The 23-year-old will be doing everything he can between now and the end of March to find a way to make the big league club. His most likely spot could be as the center fielder. But there’s a chance he could be used in a super-sub role and play all over the infield and outfield.