Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal wasn't supposed to be on the board when the Reds selected at 12th, but when he was, they were quick to pick him up.
Grandal came into the draft as one of the most polished prospects after spending three years at Miami. He has already garnered honors and accolades for his play this year and was named a first team All-American.
The pick looks solid.
Grandal is a safe pick due to his college experience. He is currently batting .412, tops in the ACC, with 14 home runs, and 56 RBIs for the Hurricanes.
It seemed as if the Reds wouldn't have a shot at Grandal after he had supposedly been in talks with Kansas City. It almost seemed certain that he'd go to the Royals at No. 4, but when he slipped, the Reds knew they couldn't pass him up as Grandal is a solid hitting catcher that can hit for power from both sides of the plate.
The Grandal pick is also intriguing due to his Cuban heritage.
Like current AAA and former Hurricane first baseman Yonder Alonso, Grandal hails from Cuba. If both develop into contributors for the Reds, the pair would be extremely exciting to watch.
There are some downsides to the pick however.
Grandal could be a hassle to sign. As Illya Harrell pointed out yesterday, he's likely to demand a lot of money since he's one of the most MLB-ready players in the draft.
With the Reds not having a boatload of money to throw around, it could be hard to get him to sign. Cincinnati barely signed Alonso a few years ago, inking him just minutes before the deadline. With the money the Reds have spent on Alonso, Mike Leake, and Aroldis Chapman, the negotiations between Grandal and the Reds could be intense.
Some scouts have said that Grandal will have to improve his bat speed to succeed in the minors and majors, and some are skeptical about his defense.
The Reds used a pick on catcher Devin Mesoraco a few years ago, and he's coming into his own as he moves through the minors. It seems that Grandal brings more to the table than Mesoraco, however.
Overall, the pick is definitely a solid one for the Redlegs as it's hard to come across such a talented catching prospect at the No. 12 pick. The polish and hitting ability make the pick particularly appealing.
Let's hope the Reds can sign him.
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