Reds call up top prospect Nick Senzel, will hit 2nd in Friday debut

The Cincinnati Reds began a highly anticipated new era Friday as they called up Nick Senzel, the team's top prospect and the fifth best in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

The 23-year-old will debut when the Reds host the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park, the team announced. Senzel will hit second behind first baseman Joey Votto and play center field, and he isn't lacking for confidence.

“It doesn’t make a difference to me. Joey will just get on, and I will hit him in,” Senzel told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.

As eager as the prospect is about making the jump, his new teammates are excited to welcome him into the fold.

"I'm excited to see him play," Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig said, according to Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Hope he has a good game (Friday).

"He's young and has a lot of energy. We're going to have good energy now between his good energy and the energy that we have here from spring training to this middle season now. We're going to be good."

Senzel, the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, was thought by many to be in line for an Opening Day roster spot this year but failed to make the Reds out of spring training despite a strong Cactus League showing. His early-season demotion was controversial and was denounced by his agent as an "egregious case of service-time manipulation." An ankle injury late in the spring further delayed his eventual call-up.

Since recovering from the ailment, Senzel's hit .257/.316/.371 with a homer, three walks, and 13 strikeouts over eight games at Triple-A Louisville. It's been a long road.

"There’s so many memories, and it feels like such a long journey with the injuries and everything. It was such an emotional moment for me and my family after Wednesday’s game, a dream became a reality," Senzel said, per Sheldon. "It just made it worth it. It was hard for me to explain that moment in time. Just knowing I’m here, in the lineup and an actual Red, has made it all worth it."

Although he was drafted as an infielder and played the majority of his minor-league career at third base, the Reds moved Senzel to center field this spring and it's expected he'll man that position in Cincinnati going forward. Excluding spring training, his eight appearances in Louisville represent his only professional experience as an outfielder.

Cincinnati optioned pitcher Matt Bowman to Louisville in a corresponding roster move, while second baseman Scooter Gennett was transferred to the 60-day injured list in order to open a 40-man spot for Senzel.