Reds’ 2016 draft receives high marks from Baseball America

Baseball America had good news for Reds fans this week as the publication declared Cincinnati's 2016 draft the best in baseball.

Nick Senzel, taken by Cincinnati out of Tennessee with the No. 2 overall pick, was named the best pure hitter and the top player coming out of college or junior college.

That doesn’t come as a big surprise as the third baseman tore up the Midwest League as a member of the Dayton Dragons in the second half of the summer.

He hit .329 in 58 games in Dayton with seven homers, 23 doubles and 36 RBIs and was chosen second-closest to the majors among college draftees, trailing only White Sox pitching prospect Zack Burdi.

Taylor Trammell, chosen by the Reds out of Mount Paran Christian School in Kennesaw, Ga., was tabbed the No. 3 player coming out of high school this year.

The No. 35 overall pick hit .303 with 34 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in rookie ball in Billings.

Trammell was also named the No. 5 athlete in the draft while T.J. Friedl was picked as the prospect with the fourth most intriguing background “by human interest.”

Friedl was signed as a free agent out of college and took Billings by storm.

The 21-year-old outfielder from Nevada-Reno hit .346 with 11 doubles, two triples and three homers in 29 games.

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