Nick Senzel, come on down!
Following the graduation of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Senzel was my no-brainer No. 1 prospect for 2019 remaining in the minors. In my opinion, the second overall pick in 2016 was ready to hit in the major leagues in late 2017. He was on his way to the show last season before a fluke hand injury cut his 2018 campaign short. Once again, he seemed prime for a spot in Cincinnati this spring -- even with a position change -- but another one-off injury delayed that debut until Friday.
What he can do
Every time I have seen Senzel in person, he has looked like the best player on the field. There is an ease and fluidity to his movements on the diamond. One of Carlos Beltran's teammates once said it seemed like the veteran had "jazz music playing in his head" while on the field. To me, Senzel maneuvers like he's hearing the essential Thelonious Monk playlist.
Senzel can do a bit of everything. He is a natural athlete with a "plus" hit tool. He should be a .300 hitter with 50 or more extra-base hits, along with a solid number of steals. This should all translate into run-scoring opportunities. He will play center field for the time being, but has the talent to play very well all over the diamond.
What to expect
Don't get me wrong, Senzel is not a Guerrero Jr. or a Fernando Tatis Jr. -- those two are both superstar talents. However, Senzel definitely has All-Star potential. He is a top-of-the-order hitter who should positively impact all five standard categories. The emphasis will be on average -- an area in which I think he can contribute right away -- but he will be a sneaky source of production in the other categories as well.
The chance for multi-position eligibility will only increase his value if the Reds give him the opportunity to showcase his defensive versatility down the road. For now, I think he spends most of his days in the grass with a chance to walk the dirt road again in the future. This is not a case of "low ceiling, high floor." The floor is definitely high, but his canopy also has a considerable amount of height.