Wait for Nick Senzel’s debut continues in Cincinnati

Senzel hitting .231 in Triple-A

Many Cincinnati Reds fans hoped to see the franchise's top prospect, Nick Senzel, make his big-league debut this weekend because starting third baseman Eugenio Suarez is on the disabled list and Senzel can play third. That didn't happen.

The Reds take a 2-12 record into the finale of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday with Senzel, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, still with Triple-A Louisville. He's hitting .231 in nine games with one home run, two doubles and one RBI.

“We’re an organization; we’re not one person,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “This is not a situation where one person gets to say, ‘This is what happens.’ This is a decision made by a lot of people for a lot of varying reasons, and that’s where I stand on it. I think he could help us, and there’s also the argument that the people who see him and know him better than I do need to feel he’s ready, and when that time comes, I would think we would see him here, especially with (Eugenio Suarez) out.”

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Senzel, 22, had four hits in the first two games, went hitless in the next four games and went 5-for-14 in the last three games. This is his first season in Triple-A. He split time last season between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Pensacola.

“He’s played some second base,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “I think he’s gone over to play some third since Geno got hurt. He scuffled a little bit with the bat and has kind of been back on track the last day or two, so he’s been swinging it better lately. He plays with his hair on fire. He plays hard.”

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