KENAI, Alaska The Cincinnati Reds selected former Mat-Su Miners infielder Nick Senzel with the second pick of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday.
The selection makes Senzel the second highest-drafted Miner in program history behind No. 1 pick Jeff King in 1986.
Nick is a five-tool player across the board, Miners head coach Ben Taylor said. He can run, throw, hit, field and hit for power. It wouldnt shock me to see Nick get to the big leagues really fast.
Senzel joined the Miners in the summer of 2014, appearing in 23 games for the program. He recorded 17 hits, including four doubles and three home runs.
Hes a hardworking kid, but one of the best parts is that he always brought a smile to the ballpark, Taylor said. His teammates loved him and he was a lot of fun to have in the clubhouse.
As a member of the Tennessee baseball team, Senzel finished his three-year collegiate career with 126 RBIs and a .332 batting average. He also posted a slugging percentage of .508 and swiped 46 bags for the Volunteers.
Its the whole package, and thats why hes the second pick in the draft, Taylor said.