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Home , Austin Meadows, Blake Rutherford, Brad Boxberger, Brandon Brennan, Bruce Berenyi, Chad Mottola

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THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1981- throws the fourth consecutive for the Reds in a win, 2-0, over (6/3/81, , 6-2 win; 6/5/81, , 6-3 win; 6/6/81, , 9-3 win) MLB.COM Reds have plenty of options with second pick By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | June 6th, 2016

CINCINNATI -- The 2016 Draft will take place from Thursday through Saturday, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. Live Draft coverage from MLB Network's Studio 42 begins at 7 p.m., with the top 77 picks being streamed on MLB.com and broadcast on MLB Network. MLB.com's exclusive coverage of Day 2 begins with a live Draft show at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, with exclusive coverage of Day 3 beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

MLB.com's coverage includes Draft Central, the Top 200 Draft Prospects list and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of over 1,500 Draft-eligible players. Every selection will be tweeted live from @MLBDraftTracker, and you can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.

Here's how the Draft is shaping up for the Reds, whose first selection is the No. 2 overall pick.

In about 50 words

It's the second time in the franchise's history, and the first time since 1983, that the Reds have the second pick overall. With the team in a rebuild mode seeking to invest heavily on the amateur market and develop its own players through the system, this pick could carry big ramifications.

The scoop

The 2016 Draft lacks the wealth of prized picks with no or -type players that are consensus top selections. The Reds have the luxury of losing only one player they might want on the Draft board ahead of them, depending on what the Phillies do with the first overall pick. According to senior director of amateur scouting Chris Buckley, Cincinnati has focused its scouting this spring on four or five players. The club will stick to its mantra of taking what it feels is the best available athlete.

Whoever is taken by the Reds, even at the second pick, it might be a few years before that player reaches the Majors. "It remains to be seen if that type of talent is out there this year who is that close to the big leagues," Buckley said.

First-round buzz

Recent mock drafts by MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis have the Reds taking , a from the . However, if the Phillies do not take University of left-handed A.J. Puk, as predicted in the mock Draft, he might be too good for Cincinnati to pass up. Other players that might be on the radar include from Mercer University and Delvin Perez from .

Money matters

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each pick in the top 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, and the total for each of a team's choices covers what it can spend without penalty in those rounds. Any bonus money in excess of $100,000 given to an individual player selected in rounds 11-40 also counts against a club's bonus pool. The amounts rise each year in accordance with Major League 's revenue growth, and the total increased by 4.62 percent compared to 2015.

Any team going up to five percent over its allotted pool will be taxed at a 75 percent rate on the overage. A team that overspends by 5-10 percent gets a 75 percent tax, plus the loss of a first-round pick. A team that goes 10-15 percent over its pool amount will be with a 100 percent penalty on the overage and the loss of a first- and second-round pick. Any overage of 15 percent or more gets a 100 percent tax plus the loss of first-round picks in the next two Drafts.

Because the Reds have both the No. 2 pick and the No. 35 overall selection for winning the Competitive Balance Lottery, they will have the largest bonus pool at $13,923,700 to sign their 11 picks.

For the No. 2 pick in this year's Draft, the slot value is $7,762,900. The No. 35 pick is valued at $1,837,200.

Shopping list

Via recent trades and the past few Drafts, the Reds have focused on replenishing their pitching depth. Several pitching prospects are in the system that the organization is very high on, including a few at the -A and -A levels that are knocking on the door to the big leagues. Where the depth is lacking is with big-time hitters. That doesn't mean Cincinnati won't take pitching with its upper-round picks.

"You may think you have a ton of pitching, but you never have as much as you think," Buckley said. "Look at all the guys who are hurt this year. It happens to every team. You never shy away from really good pitching." Recent Draft history

Trend watch

On the pitching front, the Reds have spent the past few Drafts loading up on power arms. They have not been afraid to take that have been relievers or closers for their college team and try to develop them as starters. It's something they've done with pitchers like , for example.

Rising fast

Lefty , Cincinnati's No. 4 prospect, is dominating at Double-A Pensacola this season. Garrett was a 22nd-round selection in 2011, but he had higher-round talent. When Garrett was taken, he was also a college player who didn't have significant baseball experience. Since giving up hoops two years ago, he has flourished while steadily moving up.

Cinderella story

Right-hander Sal Romano, taken one round after Garrett in 2011, is the organization's No. 15 prospect. Although he doesn't have great numbers in 2016 for Pensacola, the organization likes his size and power right arm.

In The Show

Homegrown players are all over the Reds' current roster that were drafted and developed from within the organization. That includes former first-rounders like and , second-round selections like , Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton and others such as , Jon Moscot, Tony Cingrani and Lorenzen.

The Reds' recent top picks 2015: , C, Advanced Daytona 2014: , RHP, Class A Advanced Daytona 2013: , OF, Double-A Pensacola 2012: Nick Travieso, RHP, Double-A Pensacola 2011: Robert Stephenson, RHP, Triple-A Louisville

Draft Buzz: What Callis and Mayo are hearing Top-ranked prospect Groome reportedly commits to Chipola JC By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com | @JonathanMayo | 2:37 AM ET

Groome to JUCO?

Jason Groome, ranked No. 1 on the Top 200 Draft prospects list, might be headed to junior college, if the Draft doesn't go as planned.

Groome, the lefty from Barnegat High School in New Jersey, had originally committed to Vanderbilt University, but there was late word that he had changed gears and instead committed to Chipola College, a two-year school in Florida. By switching to the junior college, Groome would be eligible for the 2017 Draft should he decide not to sign.

As the spring started, that did not seem like a possibility, as Groome appeared to be a top-of-the-Draft type of player, one even in consideration to be taken No. 1 overall. But there have been concerns about off-field issues that have are seemingly causing the southpaw to slide. If the signability demands -- and there was talk of a $4 million price tag -- don't match the potential post-slide landing spot, Groome could decide to roll the dice, pitch a year back in Florida (he spent his junior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton), and try his luck in the Draft again next year.

Braves looking for deal at No. 3?

With this Draft class, particularly at the top, very much in flux, teams picking in the Top 10 are still trying to figure out how things will line up. Starting with the Phillies, who are still reportedly considering several options with the top selection, the volatility is causing teams picking early to explore any and all options.

With this Draft class, particularly at the top, very much in flux, teams picking in the Top 10 are still trying to figure out how things will line up. Starting with the Phillies, who are still reportedly considering several options with the top selection, the volatility is causing teams picking early to explore any and all options.

That includes potential bargains. The Braves have the No. 3 pick and have mostly been associated with taking a bat with the pick. The last few mocks on MLBPipeline.com have had Atlanta taking local Mercer product Kyle Lewis at No. 3. And there would be interest in Florida lefty A.J. Puk should he get to the Braves. One thing there doesn't seem to be is consensus, about both who will be there and who the Braves will take.

As a result, the Braves -- like most of the teams in the top third of the first round -- are looking at potential bargains with their first pick. There has been a good amount of buzz about them looking at high school arms for a while. That intensified about one player in particular when they had a large presence at 's last start in upstate New York.

Anderson, ranked No. 13 in the Top 200, didn't hurt his cause any by throwing his fastball in the 94-97 mph range and striking out 16 in the start, cementing his status in the first round. The Braves do have extra picks, with a Lottery Round A pick at No. 40, acquired via a trade with the Marlins, then their second-round pick at No. 44. If they money at No. 3, they could be more aggressive about going after talent that slid because of signability concerns later on.

The talk surrounding Anderson was that the Vanderbilt commit had told teams he was looking for $3 million. Pick value for the No. 3 selection is slightly more than $6.5 million. The Braves could potentially meet Anderson's asking price and still have $3.5 million and change to play with in later rounds.

That all sounds like an intriguing scenario, but it is one that still seems like a bit of a long shot. But it's one the Braves can't rule out because of the uncertainty at the top.

Dunn on the rise

At the start of the college season, Boston College right-hander was a reliever scouts thought about giving a chance to start at the next level. When he was moved into his college rotation, it was as if a wish had been granted by the scouting genie. Dunn hasn't disappointed since the move, either, giving him as much helium as any college pitcher in the Draft class.

Dunn is ranked No. 29 in the Top 200, but there seems like there is no doubt he'll go much higher than that. Since starting for the first time on April 9, Dunn has made eight appearances (including that first start), seven of them as a starter. The Eagles won seven of those games and Dunn posted a 1.34 ERA in 47 .

He's saved his best for last, in pressure situations, with a lot of people watching. First came his complete-game victory (with nine ) against Georgia Tech on May 21, his last regular season start. Then, last Friday, he beat Tulane in Regional play by striking out 11 over seven innings to help BC on its way to an improbable Super Regional appearance.

Dunn was already firmly planted in the first round. By showing what he can do with his four-pitch mix when stretched out as a starter, his stock has taken off, with his name coming up as high as the No. 11 pick.

Schultz, Berrios among top prospect performers Monday Rays' No. 18 prospect loses perfect game in seventh, Twins' No. 1 strikes out season-high 11 By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | 3:22 AM ET

Jaime Schultz flirted with perfection on Monday night as he fired seven one-hit innings in Triple-A Durham's 6-0 shutout of Norfolk.

The Rays' No. 18 prospect carried a perfect-game bid into the seventh before allowing a two-out double to Norfolk outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. It marked the only baserunner to reach base against Schultz, who struck out 10 hitters and did not issue a walk in a start for the first time this season.

Schultz, 24, tossed 66 of his 91 pitches for strikes and struck out a pair of hitters in the second and sixth innings and fanned the side in the fourth.

"That's probably the best I've ever felt in a professional game," Schultz told MiLB.com. "I was able to make an adjustment from pitch to pitch. If I yanked one, I'd be able to get back on it. [] called a great game. I just tried to execute, and every pitch felt good out of the hand."

With a mid- to upper-90s fastball, devastating breaking ball and an improving , Schultz possesses what scouts like to call "no-hit stuff." But even though he has the career numbers to support that claim, Schultz has never quite made the impact that his stuff suggests he should due to his subpar control and command.

But Schultz has made strides in that department this season. After not issuing a walk on Monday, the 2013 14th-rounder has allowed just 27 free passes in 66 2/3 innings. He has piled up 75 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .206 average.

Schultz is 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 12 starts for the Bulls.

The rest of the best performances from top prospects Monday

• No. 15 overall prospect Jose Berrios was dominant in his best outing of 2016 as he struck out a season-high 11 hitters over eight innings in Triple-A Rochester's 6-2 win over Buffalo. The Twins' No. 1 prospect allowed two earned runs on one walk and three hits, two of which were solo home runs by veteran Casey Kotchman. It was an encouraging performance from the 22-year-old right- hander, especially after he gave up seven runs on 10 hits across five innings in his previous start.

• No. 16 overall prospect hit a double in the fourth inning of Double-A Altoona's loss to Erie to extend his to 15 games. The Pirates' No. 2 prospect has collected seven extra-base hits in his last six games and 13 during his streak.

• In his first scoreless outing since April 24, No. 30 overall prospect Robert Stephenson (Reds' No. 2) tossed six innings of five- hit ball for Triple-A Louisville in a 3-1 loss to Syracuse. The 23-year-old right-hander walked two and struck out four, with 60 of his 89 pitches going for strikes.

• No. 42 overall prospect went 2-for-5 with his fourth home , a three-run shot in the eighth inning, and scored three runs as Triple-A Charlotte defeated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 8-1. The White Sox No. 2 prospect has 19 multiple-hit performances since May 1 and is hitting .300/.322/.405.

• No. 56 overall prospect 's Eastern League-leading ERA rose to 0.95 from 0.88 on Monday as the Brewers' No. 4 prospect allowed one run and four hits over six innings in Double-A Biloxi's 4-2 win over Montgomery. Hader, 22, issued two walks and struck out eight in the outing -- his fourth eight-strikeout performance in 10 starts for the Shuckers -- giving him an overall strikeout-to-walk ratio of 73/19 in 57 innings this season.

• No. 87 overall prospect (Indians' No. 3) connected on a first-inning and later added a two-run double as he tallied a season-high six RBIs for Class A Lynchburg on Monday. The grand slam was his second of the season and gives him three home runs in his past six games.

• D-backs' No. 7 prospect Peter O'Brien launched a tape-measure solo in the first inning of Triple-A Reno's game against Salt Lake to retake the Minor League lead with 17. The 25-year-old has been on a tear of late, as he's hitting .460 (17-for-37) with five home runs and 20 RBIs over his last eight games for the Aces after going 3-for-5 at the plate on Monday.

• In Double-A Jackson's 6-1 loss to Pensacola, Mariners No. 6 prospect D.J. Peterson hit an RBI double in the fourth inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. The 24-year-old has raised his average from .213 to .250 during the streak.

• In Class A Delmarva's 9-5 win over West in 13 innings, Orioles Nos. 5 and 6 prospects D.J. Stewart and -- Baltimore's first-round Draft picks from 2015 -- combined to go 8-for-13 with three extra-base hits and five runs scored. Stewart hit a double, scored two runs and plated two more in a 4-for-7 performance, and he also stole three bases in the contest to bring his season total to 13. Mountcastle went 4-for-6 with a solo home run, his second of the year, and a double while also scoring three times.

• Phillies No. 30 prospect Ben Liveley fired six scoreless innings in his best start since being promoted Triple-A . Lively, 24, allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six as the IronPigs shut out Gwinnett, 3-0. The right-hander is 9-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 72 innings (12 starts) this season between the Double- and Triple-A levels.

"I was just throwing my fastball for strikes and letting them get themselves out early in the game," Lively told MiLB.com. "My and were working really good when I got ahead. Main thing for me was getting ahead with the fastball and setting everything up."

• White Sox No. 4 prospect paced Double-A Birmingham's offense in a win against Mobile, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored. The 2015 MVP has swung a hot bat since he rejoined Birmingham on May 25, notching six extra-base hits and 11 runs scored in 12 games. Left-hander Jordan Guerrero (No. 6) was equally impressive on the mound for the Barons as he allowed just two hits in seven innings to record the win. He walked four batters and struck out two in the start while throwing 52 of his 87 pitches for strikes.

• A day after Class A Advanced Winston-Salem right-hander Spencer Adams recorded his first career shutout, White Sox No. 20 prospect Brandon Brennan did the same as he kept Wilmington off the board for nine innings in a 6-0 win. The 24-year-old righty scattered nine hits and struck out seven on the night, needing only 103 pitches (71 strikes) to complete the shutout. Brennan, who owns a 7.22 ERA over 52 1/3 innings (11 starts) this season between Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, has thrown back- to-back complete games for the Dash.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER a polished high school outfielder Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 6:18 p.m. EDT June 6, 2016

LOS ANGELES – It’s ironic that one of the knocks against Blake Rutherford is that he’s already 19 years old. For much of his youth, he was playing against kids older than him, not younger.

The Chaminade Prep outfielder started playing baseball when he was three, playing up alongside four- and five-year-olds.

“Even if I did nothing in the game, I would roll around in the dirt,” he said. “It was all about having fun back then. They said I did good, but all I remember is every picture had to do with dirt.”

Baseball may have been fun and games back then, but it’s been serious business for Rutherford for several years now. The 6-3, 200- pound outfielder has a chance to be drafted high in the first round of amateur draft Thursday.

If he does, he can say he earned it.

Growing up

He may be a behemoth now, but it wasn’t always that way. His older brother Cole, a 22-year-old redshirt junior at Cornell, has seen Rutherford grow over the years. A diminutive infielder in Little League morphed into a five-tool outfielder with a wide receiver’s body.

What remained was the little guy work ethic.

“He was nowhere near the player that he is now,” Cole Rutherford said. “He had to work real hard for every advantage.”

Rutherford began putting serious work toward his baseball future entering his sophomore year at Chaminade. It was then that he started training with Ryan Sorensen at Proactive Sports Performance, located about halfway between L.A. and Oxnard, Calif. Sorensen had worked with other baseball stars like Nick Swisher and .

In the offseasons, Rutherford spent about six hours a week at Proactive. Three days a week he’d work on his strength, explosiveness and flexibility. The other two he’d work on speed and recovery. He’d later add some yoga and cryotherapy although the benefits of the latter are scientifically up for debate

Each session lasted an hour, but Rutherford would often come early and stay late. Sorensen estimates Rutherford added about 30 pounds of muscle by his senior year.

“From the get-go, he’s come to me and really worked his tail off,” Sorensen said. “He’s had a purpose of what he needs to accomplish while he’s there.”

Rutherford’s also worked on his defense. He maintains he’s a center fielder despite some disagreement among baseball evaluators and has made sure to give himself the best chance to stick there.

He’s received private instruction from outfield Tarrik Brock, whose eldest son was a three-sport athlete for Chaminade. Brock taught Rutherford the geometry necessary to understand the right angles to take, and drilled him on fundamentals of his first step. He also helped Rutherford learn to continue to pump his arms as he runs – instead of holding one or both stiff – to better his closing speed.

“I think he can play center field for as long as he wants to or whatever the need of the team may be,” Brock said.

Game-changer

Just about the only thing Rutherford hasn’t taken private instruction on recently is his swing, which also happens to be his busiest asset. He credits coaches at the California Baseball Academy with molding his mechanics and approach, but Rutherford hasn’t had a private swing coach in a few years.

Nonetheless, he displays what many consider to be an advanced approach at the plate. He uses the whole field and stays back as he awaits the ball, eschewing any sort of leg kick. When he’s more aggressive, he’ll use a toe-tap to get his timing. But that disappears when he’s at two strikes and trying to cover the whole strike zone.

Rutherford’s definition of “advanced approach” is a simple one.

“It just means getting my pitch when I hit,” he said. “Even if it’s a strike, I’m going to take it if it’s not a pitch I’m going to drive, until it gets to two strikes.”

Rutherford hit .577 with 13 doubles and four home runs as a senior, but his best performances have come on the biggest stages. He twice played for Team USA’s 18-and-under team, hitting .286 as a rising junior and .304 last summer. That year, he helped secure a gold medal with a timely three-run homer against South Korea.

He also led Chaminade to a championship win at the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C., this past spring, hitting .643 during the tournament.

“I had the ability to stay calm and cool in all situations,” he said. “No matter how many people in the stands, I just focus on playing baseball and having fun, because that’s what I’m here for.”

For his brother, Rutherford’s most impressive performance came in one of his final games as a prep player Chaminade. It was also the most instructive in terms of his draft stock.

Cole Rutherford remembers his brother smoking two balls, stealing a couple bags, reaching a ball in center that most would have missed and throwing a runner out at home.

“That’s hitting for contact, hitting for power, his speed on the bases, speed on defense and with his arm on defense,” Cole Rutherford said.

Draft chances

If annoys Rutherford that his age is perceived as a dent in his armor. He points out he only recently turned 19, but also figures he must be doing something right if that’s the biggest knock against him.

It’s not a disadvantage he’ll face for long. He’s committed to UCLA to play college baseball, and being 19 now means he can again be eligible for the draft after two years with the Bruins instead of three. He won’t say what would have to happen to pry him away from the Bruins, but some think he’ll need to be taken in the first five picks.

“There’s definitely a chance I still end up at UCLA,” he said. “I love UCLA. My family is a big education-first, big school-first family.

BAR: Jay Bruce is Jay Bruce again Zach Buchanan, [email protected] 12:07 p.m. EDT June 6, 2016

Jay Bruce prefers to treat the 2014 and 2015 seasons like a bad dream. The guy who posted a .222 average and .695 OPS those years was certainly not him.

"I've been OK at baseball before this," Bruce said. "I've had some good years and I feel normal. I think that's the biggest thing that I'm going to have to continue to show. I feel like Jay Bruce. Not 2014 and 15, those were miserable years. I was injured and I think some of that stuff carried over and had some bad habits that I got rid of."

On Sunday, Bruce hit his 13th home run of the season. It took him until July 10 to reach that mark last year. In 2014, he didn't reach 13 homers until August 17.

He's now on pace to hit 37, which would be a career-best, topping his previous mark of 34 in 2012.

“Obviously that's a pace," Bruce said. "The keyword there is pace but I think what people may forget is that I think people in a lot of ways comparing me to what I did in 2014 and 15."

Bruce is now hitting .280/.332/.591 for the season. He's only finished with a slugging percentage over .500 once before. If he can keep it up for another month, the canceled three-team trade that would have sent Bruce to the in may be one of the best trades the Reds never made.

That deal was aborted when the Reds found something they didn't like in the medicals for one of the Angels minor- leaguers they were set to receive. Bruce's value was at its nadir at that point, and the Angels minor-league system is one of the shallowest in baseball. By nixing it, the Reds risked getting nothing at all if Bruce continued to struggle.

It may never be higher than right now, but even if Bruce starts to fall back to earth a bit in the next month the Reds should be able to get a better deal. There are likely to be more outfield-needy teams, and Bruce offers an attractive rental bat since there's only a $1 million buyout on his 2016 option.

Minor-league roundup

Triple-A: Rochester 8, Louisville 6. RHP Chad Rogers gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings, and RHP Dayan Diaz surrendered three in 1 1/3 in his return to action after being demoted from the majors. LF went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double. [Box]

Double-A: Jackson 8, Pensacola 5. RHP Jackson Stephens gave up six runs in 4 1/3, but only three of them were earned. He also got dinged for his first home run of the year. 2B Brandon Dixon hit two home runs. [Box]

High-A: Daytona 4, Fort Myers 0. Four Tortugas pitchers allowed only one hit, and that didn't come until the ninth. 3B Taylor Sparks went 2 for 4 with a home run. [Box]

Low-A: Fort Wayne 4, Dayton 1. RHP gave up just one run over five innings, but RHP Ariel Hernandez broke down for three runs over the final 1 1/3. 1B James Vasquez and 3B Brantley Bell each collected two hits. [Box]

And since you made it this far...

- This could be the last draft of its kind, since the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA expires after this season. If there's a way to make the process simpler and easier to explain, I'm down for it.

- Of all the Muhammad Ali things I watched and read the last few days, I enjoyed this the most. I love getting to see Ali's reactions.

- Ice Cube talked about N.W.A.'s last stop in Cincinnati in 1989, when they got in some legal trouble for performing "F--- the Police." Lo and behold, it was the first song performed Saturday.

- Today in Zach Watches Too Many Movies and TV Shows: What a disappointing episode of Game of Thrones. A show that is known for its WTF moments had literally no surprises Sunday night. (Light spoilers ahead.) Surprise, it's hard to rally bannermen to Jon and Sansa's cause! Surprise, Arya blowing her shot to be an assassin was a dangerously bad decision! Surprise, the Blackfish and Jaime Lannister didn't hug it out! And my god, what a waste of a wonderful actor like Ian McShane.

WCPO - Channel 9 Crosley Field memorial site to officially open Wednesday morning By: Mike Dyer Posted: 9:14 AM, Jun 7, 2016

The Crosley Field memorial site will be formally dedicated and open to the public Wednesday morning.

The memorial site, which was originally announced in August 2014, is on the campus of City Gospel Mission (1805 Dalton Avenue) and festivities start at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The site is free to visit.

Reds historian Greg Rhodes will lead a guided tour at 11:30 a.m. to the media and the public.

After the tour, lunch will be provided courtesy of Queen City Sausage.

“The purpose of the project is to acknowledge and preserve the history of the field that means so much to the Reds, fans and city, offering a chance for visitors to experience that history in a significant way,” City Gospel Mission president Roger Howell said.

The project cost is being funded mainly by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The public can purchase a personalized brick to be a part of the special plaza.

Packages start at $175 and include a keepsake brick in addition to an installed brick. Bricks can be ordered at redsmueum.org/bricks.

In 2015, City Gospel Mission moved to the property that was the Cincinnati Reds’ home from 1912 to 1970 (originally Redland Field).

Baseball had been played at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue since 1884.

For three years, City Gospel Mission has been working with the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The main feature of the memorial site is a 17-foot-by-50 foot mural depicting the ballpark circa mid-1950s by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. The mural started in April and was among those who helped to paint.

In addition to the mural features include:

A self-guided tour for visitors (brochures in the lobby of City Gospel Mission) Replica left-field foul pole and right-field foul pole Replica light tower Photos provided by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum A plaza with replica seats and commemorative bricks Base markers Memorabilia for purchase

Reds need to catch a star with No. 2 draft pick, but who? They take highest-rated player no matter position By: John Fay, WCPO Contributor Posted: 3:19 PM, Jun 6, 2016 Updated: 42 mins ago

CINCINNATI — It can’t be .

The Reds have the second pick in this year’s draft, which begins Thursday. The only time the Reds had a pick this high was 1983. They picked Stillwell. The shortstop wasn’t a complete bust — he played nine years in the big leagues and even made an All-Star Game — but Stillwell wasn’t what you would call an impact player.

The Reds need to get a lot of bang out of their pick this year because:

A) they need more talent in the system; and B) their fans can use a dose of feel-good.

The consensus top talent in the draft is A.J. Puk, a left-hander from Florida. John Manuel of , the bible of baseball development and scouting, thinks the Reds will take either Puk or Nick Senzel, a third baseman from Tennessee.

Keith Law of ESPN.com has the Reds taking Kyle Lewis, an outfielder from Mercer, with the Phillies taking Puk with the No. 1 pick.

“I’m pretty confident it will be either Puk or Senzel (for the Reds),” Manuel said. “There’s a small, outside chance the Reds make a deal with a prep (player), like Delvin Perez.”

Reds scouting director Chris Buckley won’t tip his hand, but he acknowledges the Reds are looking at that group.

“There’s good accuracy there,” Buckley said. “Puk and Lewis are guys most people have at the top of the draft.”

Lewis would fill a pressing need in the Reds system: A power-hitting, athletic outfielder. The Reds have no one like that among their top 10 prospects.

Puk doesn’t fill a pressing need. Seven of the Reds’ top 10 prospects are starting pitchers, including left-hander and Amir Garrett at No. 2 and 3.

But if the Phillies take Lewis, there’s an excellent chance the Reds will pick Puk.

Whether they’re picking second or 22nd, the Reds select the best player on their board — regardless of position, regardless of whether he’s a high school or college player.

SEE the Reds' first-round picks through the years.

“That’s been sponsored by Walt (Jocketty) and Dick (Williams) and ownership,” Buckley said. “We always try and tell people that it’s not like the NFL Draft, where the guy is going to play for you next year. and some of these college guys take four years to get to the big leagues.

“We’d like them to get here next year. (Mike) Leake did that. It doesn’t happen often.”

Buckley’s point: Needs change in the time it takes to develop players, and you can trade players. Stillwell’s great impact for the Reds came when he was a part of the trade that brought pitcher Danny Jackson from the before the 1988 season. Jackson went 23-8 that year.

The Reds picked first baseman in 2008, even though he was blocked by Joey Votto. Alonso, however, was key to the trade, as were former top picks and .

Puk’s numbers aren’t overwhelming. He’s 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA. But his stuff and 6-foot-7 size give him great potential. Here’s what Baseball America says about him:

“Puk throws his fastball in the mid to upper 90s and thanks to the downhill angle and the excellent extension his 6-foot-7 frame enables him to get, the pitch plays up even further. Puk’s slider and changeup both could use further refinement, but both have a chance to develop into average offerings. His slider sits in the mid-80s with horizontal sweeping action, though it can sometimes back up.”

Note: “Average” means major-league average.

Lewis’ numbers were overwhelming. He hit .395 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI. He walked 66 times and struck out 48. Mercer is a smaller Division I in Georgia, so there were skeptics on Lewis. Here’s what BA says about him:

“(He) went to the Cape Cod League for the summer and cemented himself as a first-rounder, showing power, arm strength and athleticism. Lewis is a right-handed hitter with plus-plus raw power. He has some swing-and-miss to his game, and his swing plane can be somewhat steep, but he’s developed a reputation for destroying mistake pitches and working at-bats until he gets the pitch he’s looking for.”

Senzel hit .352 with 25 doubles, eight home runs and 59 RBI this year. Here’s what BA says about him:

“His carrying tool is his right-handed bat. Senzel is a patient hitter with a mature approach and a swing that’s geared up for line drives. He makes consistent hard contact in games and in batting practice. Senzel shows the ability to drive the ball with authority to the opposite field or to his pull-side gap. He hits more for doubles than home runs at this point, but he can show raw power in batting practice when he’s asked to, leading some evaluators to believe that he will develop more game power as he continues to mature. This spring, Senzel has shown significantly improved defense in the infield, shifting to shortstop later in the season from third base.”

Buckley says the Reds haven’t made a final call.

“We have a good idea,” Buckley said. “We’re down to a couple of guys. There’s more to do. We’re still only at Monday. At this minute, it’s down to a couple of guys.

“I’m sure Philadelphia has the same couple. They control what we do.” Buckley has been the Reds scouting director since 2006. He was former General Manager ’s first hire. Buckley’s record overall is good. His first five first-rounders — , , Frazier, Alonso, Leake and Grandal - all became regulars in the big leagues. His sixth first-rounder, current top prospect Robert Stephenson, is headed that way.

But his last four top picks — Nick Travieso, Phillip Ervin, Nick Howard and Tyler Stephenson — are struggling in the minors. Stephenson, a high school catcher, was the highest of those picks at 11th.

The Reds have had five top-five picks. They’re batting .200 in that situation. They got with the fourth pick in 1985. The others didn’t turn out so well: Stillwell, second in ’83, , fifth in ’84, , fifth in 1992 (infamously after Marge Schott nixed a pick of ) and Chris Gruler, third in ’02.

“It’s always hard to pick the right guy,” Buckley said. “But in this case, you have a better idea who you’re scouting. Coming into the summer, there are three or four guys that have separated themselves. We had two or three years where we picked 27th. You have no idea who you’re scouting. You just have to go and hope you have them lined up pretty good.”

That’s easier when you’re picking second.

“We like to think we know a whole lot about the few that we’re scouting,” Buckley said.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Reds’ recent No. 1 picks struggling Posted: 1:10 pm Monday, June 6th, 2016 By Hal McCoy

If there is one thing for Cincinnati Reds fans to be excited about this year it has to be the Major League draft because the Reds get the second overall pick.

After the make the first pick Thursday night it will be Cincinnati’s turn — a big, big decision for the rebuilding, retooling, refurbishing Reds.

As one scout said, “You don’t want to mess it up.” Too often, the Reds have messed it up.

THERE IS A PROBLEM, though, with the baseball draft. It is an inexact science, a true roll of the dice, like trying to find Santa’s reindeer barn.

Sometimes you get it right and more often you get it wrong. That’s for all teams. And too often in the recent past the Reds haven’t got it right.

It could be even more difficult this year because while the talent pool is thick there doesn’t appear to be any surefire superstars in the mix, no or or Bryce Harper.

AND LET’S TAKE a peek at what the Reds have done in recent times with their No. 1 picks.

From 2006 to 2010 their No. 1 picks were Drew Stubbs, Devin Mesoraco, Yonder Alonso, and Yasmani Grandal. Notice anything? Only one of those No. 1 picks is still with the Reds and that’s catcher Devin Mesoraco, who has barely strapped on his gear the last two years due to injuries.

The rest are all playing in the majors, but they are playing for different teams. The Reds, for various reasons, have traded them all, which is something fans don’t like to see done with No. 1 picks.

HOW ABOUT FROM 2011 to 2015? In order, the Reds have selected with their first picks: Robert Stephenson, Nick Travieso, Phillip Ervin, Nick Howard and Tyler Stephenson.

Of those five, the only surefire seems to be pitcher Robert Stephenson, who is already 2-and-0 for his two major league starts but is pitching in Class AAA Louisville, probably impatiently waiting for the phone call to come back.

Travieso, 22, from Pembroke Pines, FL., is making slow progress through the system. He is in his fifth year in the minors and spent the first four in ‘A’ ball. He is pitching this season at Class AA Pensacola and is 3-and-2 with a 5.13 average in eight starts. His minor league career record is 30-and-19 with a 3.64 ERA in 80 starts.

Ervin, a 23-year-old outfielder from Mobile, Ala., was impressive in early spring training games this year, showing something he hasn’t shown in the minors. He is playing at Class AA Pensacola and hitting .233 with five homers and 18 RBI with 37 strikeouts in 190 at bats. For his four-year minor-league career he is hitting .251 with 35 homers, 192 RBI and 279 strikeouts in 1,492 plate appearances.

Howard, the 2014 No. 1 pick, a 23-year-old pitcher out of the University of Virginia, is the biggest enigma. He is in his third year and hasn’t made it out of ‘A’ ball. He is at high ‘A’ Daytona right now and needs GPS to find home plate. In 15 1/3 innings he has given up 12 hits and 24 walks. He has used up 219 pitches to cover those 15 1/3 innings. He pitches in relief and is 7-and-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 61 appearances with three saves for his career.

Last year’s No. 1 pick, 19-year-old Tyler Stephenson, is a catcher from Kennesaw, GA. Like Devin Mesoraco, he was drafted out of high school and will take longer to develop. So far at low Class A Dayton he is hitting .196 in 102 plate appearances with one home run and 10 RBI.

SO THE REDS’ RECENT No. 1 picks aren’t tearing up the baseball world and aren’t grabbing any attention as to the possibility of being future stars.

That makes this year’s pick even more poignant.

Taking a wild guess, depending upon whom the Phillies take, the Reds need position players and probably will take one of three players — University of Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel, Mercer College outfielder Kyle Lewis (who hit a 461-foot home run this year) or University of Louisville outfielder .

Senzel is the most exciting possibility. He hit .352 in 57 games this year for the Volunteers and drove in more than a run a game with 59. He hit eight home runs and 25 doubles, nearly a double every other game.

Picking No. 2 in draft doesn’t guarantee Cincinnati Reds a future star Updated: 11:56 p.m. Monday, June 6, 2016 | Posted: 11:44 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2016 By David Jablonski Staff Writer

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds have the No. 2 pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Thursday. It’s the highest they’ve picked since they selected shortstop Kurt Stillwell at No. 2 in 1983. Stillwell played two seasons with the Reds and hit .249 in a nine-year career. The first round was not full of future stars that year, the No. 19 pick, , being one exception.

There have been plenty of stars drafted No. 2 over the years: , , , J.D. Drew, Will , Joe Carter and Reggie Jackson, for example.

However, picking No. 2 overall doesn’t guarantee an All-Star or even a future big leaguer. Five of the last 10 No. 2 picks have played in the majors this season. Two of those recently suffered season-ending injuries.

Here are the No. 2 picks of the last 10 drafts and how they’re doing:

2015: , shortstop, : The LSU product hit .294 in his first season in the minors and is hitting .315 in Double-A this season.

2014: , right-handed pitcher, : Drafted out of high school, Kolek was 4-10 with a 4.56 ERA last season in Single-A, his first full season in the minors. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April.

2013: Kris Bryant, third baseman, : Drafted out of the University of San Diego, Bryant was an instant star when he debuted in 2015, hitting .275 with 26 home runs. He’s hitting .274 with 13 home runs this season.

2012: Byron Buxton, center fielder, : Drafted out of high school, Buxton made his big league debut last season, hitting .209 in 46 games. He started this season with the Twins, hit .156 and was sent back to Triple-A. He returned to the Twins on May 31 and has hits in six straight games.

2011: , left-handed pitcher, : Hultzen was drafted out of the University of Virginia. He’s 14-9 with a 2.84 ERA in 35 minor league starts in four seasons. He has not pitched this season because of shoulder problems.

2010: , left-handed pitcher, Pirates: Drafted out of high school, Taillon is 20-23 with a 3.49 ERA in 84 career starts in the minors. He had Tommy John surgery in 2014 but returned to baseball this season. At Triple-A, he’s 4-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 10 starts and could be promoted to the big leagues soon.

2009: , center fielder, Mariners: Drafted out of the University of , Ackley debuted in 2011. In his seasons with the Mariners and Yankees, he has hit .241 with 46 home runs. He hit .148 in 26 games this season with the Yankees and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery Friday.

2008: Pedro Alvarez, third baseman, Pirates: Drafted out of Vanderbilt, Alvarez debuted in 2010. He played six season with the Pirates, hitting .236. He was an All-Star in 2013 when he hit 36 home runs. This season, his first with the , he’s hitting .217.

2007: , third baseman, Kansas City Royals: Drafted out of high school, Moustakas debuted in 2011. He was an All- Star in 2015, hitting .284 with 22 home runs and helping lead the Royals to the . He suffered a torn ACL in May and will miss the rest of the season.

2006: , right-handed pitcher, : Drafted out of Stanford, Reynolds debuted with the Rockies in 2008. He was 2-8 with an 8.13 ERA in 13 starts. He returned to the big leagues in 2011 with the Rockies, posting a 6.19 ERA in 13 games. He had a brief stint with the Reds in 2013, posting a 5.52 ERA in five starts. He pitched in Japan in 2014 and 2016 and is now in Triple-A with the Padres.

ESPN.COM Cardinals-Reds Preview 9:33 AM ET STATS LLC

CINCINNATI -- The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds resumes on Tuesday night at , but it likely will have a different feel this time around.

The Reds are in the midst of a rebuild while the Cardinals are trying to establish some consistency in order to keep pace with the first-place Chicago Cubs, who have distanced themselves from their Central rivals.

Trading Mike Leake to the was among the key moves made last season by Cincinnati in an effort to cut payroll and build for the future.

Leake signed a 5-year free-agent contract with the Cardinals (30-27) in December and will face many of his former Reds teammates for the first time Tuesday.

Leake is 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 starts with 42 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 68 1/3 innings. He's produced five straight quality starts with a 1.59 ERA during that stretch.

"He's been what we had hoped for, someone who would come in and give us a quality start," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told MLB.com. "Someone who would give our team a chance."

Among the initiatives for the Reds' rebuilding process was to find an everyday left fielder, and it appears they've accomplished that goal with Adam Duvall, who they got from San Francisco in exchange for Leake.

Duvall is batting .273 with three home runs and six RBI in June. His 16 home runs rank second in the NL. Duvall also has developed into a solid defensive outfielder, but it's his power to this point in the season, which is surprising.

"I don't know if anyone could have expected (16) homers in the first third of the season from a guy who was a platoon outfielder to start the year," manager said.

"He's really not changed his approach. He's not trying to lift everything to hit homers. He's shown his power from right-center to the pull field. Ball just jumps off his bat."

Interestingly, Duvall's first career home run, which also was his first career hit with the Giants, came against Leake in 2014.

They will be matched up again on Tuesday with left-hander John Lamb, who is coming off his best outing of the season allowing one earned run over seven innings at Colorado, on the hill for Cincinnati.

Since losing 11 straight games, the Reds have won six of nine, including two of three from first-place over the weekend.

"They played us tough," Nationals manager said. "They're a hot club right now. They came out of Colorado hot, swinging the bats."

The Reds (21-36) will be looking to reverse recent history against the Cardinals, who took two of three from them in mid-April at .

Cincinnati went 4-17 against St. Louis last season and is only 3-7 against the Cards in the last 10 series played at Great American Ball Park.

Reds fans still enjoy booing Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who was at the center of a brawl between the clubs in 2010 at Cincinnati. Molina snapped a 0-for-21 skid with an eighth-inning single on Sunday.

The Cardinals are expected to reinstate shortstop from the disabled list on Tuesday. He'll be making his season debut after injuring his thumb in Spring Training.

TRANSACTIONS 06/06/16

Kansas City Royals signed free agent LHP to a minor league contract. Colorado Rockies activated LHP Boone Logan from the 15-day disabled list. recalled RHP from Gwinnett Braves. sent SS on a rehab assignment to Inland Empire 66ers. sent RF Shin-Soo Choo on a rehab assignment to Round Rock Express. Cincinnati Reds optioned Jon Moscot to . activated RF David Peralta. Arizona Diamondbacks optioned RHP Silvino Bracho to Reno Aces. Atlanta Braves optioned to Gwinnett Braves. signed free agent RHP Nick Tepesch to a minor league contract. Seattle Mariners optioned Stefen Romero to . Seattle Mariners activated SS Ketel Marte from the 15-day disabled list. St. Louis Cardinals optioned to Memphis Redbirds. sent RHP Zack Jones on a rehab assignment to . optioned to Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals activated 1B from the paternity list. Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Miguel Castro to Albuquerque Isotopes.