Day 2 of draft yields catcher, three pitchers
Mad dash begins Sunday to sign those who are free agents.
The Cincinnati Reds drafted three pitchers, a catcher and an outfielder on the second and final day of the Major League Baseball Draft on Thursday.
The draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Anyone not drafted can sign as a free agent starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, though the maximum signing bonus they can earn is $20,000.
Brad Meador, director of amateur scouting for the Reds, expects there to be a wave of signings across baseball Sunday.
“It’ll be crazy right away,” Meador said. “We’ll see who we can get signed. Then I think there will be a little bit of a lull, and then depending on college leagues and if guys go out and play, I think there also could be a late signing period.”
After drafting outfielder Austin Hendrick, of West Allegheny High School in Imperial, Pennsylvania, with the 12th pick in the first round Wednesday, the Reds picked a mix of high school and college players Thursday.
Here’s a rundown of the selections:
■ The Reds selected righthanded pitcher Christian Roa, of Texas A&M University, in the second round. Roa was the 48th overall pick. He was rated the 64th-best player in the draft by Baseball America and 89th-best player by MLB.com.
Roa is from Houston, Texas. He was 2-1 with a 5.85 ERA in a 2020 junior season shortened by the pandemic. As a sophomore, he was 3-2 with a 3.56 ERA. He made 11 starts in his career.
■ With the 65th pick in the Competitive Balance Round B, the Reds selected Jackson Miller, a catcher from J.W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
“What I’m feeling right now is hard to put into words,” Miller
wrote on Twitter. “I’ve been working my whole life for this moment. Much thanks to the Reds for the opportunity! LETS GO REDS!”
■ With their third-round pick, the 84th overall selection, the Reds drafted Bryce Bonnin, a right-handed pitcher from Texas Tech.
■ In the fourth round, with the 113th selection, the Reds drafted Mac Wainwright, an outfielder from St. Edward High School in Cleveland. Wainwright signed to play for Ohio State in November.
■ With their last pick of the draft, in the fifth round, the Reds drafted a 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher: Joe Boyle, of Notre Dame. He was the 143rd player selected.