The Cincinnati Reds made strategic moves on the first day of the Major League Baseball Draft by selecting a high school shortstop and a pitcher from LSU following their initial pick of Wake Forest right-handed pitcher Chase Burns at No. 2 overall.
With their second-round pick at No. 51 overall, the Reds chose Tyson Lewis, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound shortstop from Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska. MLB.com ranked Lewis as the 39th best prospect in the draft, noting his left-handed hitting impact, solid speed, and defensive prowess in the infield. Lewis boasted impressive senior season statistics with a .496 batting average, eight home runs, 41 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases, earning recognition as the Gatorade Nebraska Baseball Player of the Year. Committed to play at Arkansas, Lewis follows in the baseball footsteps of his father Peyton, a former Creighton player and MLB draft pick.
In the Competitive Balance Round B, the Reds secured LSU’s Luke Holman with the 71st overall pick. Holman, a 6-foot-4, 204-pound right-handed pitcher, was ranked 45th on MLB.com’s prospect list. He delivered a stellar junior season performance at LSU, recording a 9-4 record with a 2.75 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 16 games. Holman, originally from Wilson High School in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, previously attended Alabama before transferring to LSU. His decision to forego signing with the Blue Jays in the 20th round of the 2021 draft showcases his dedication to advancing his career.
Luke Holman, like Tyson Lewis, comes from a baseball lineage; his father Craig played college baseball at Jacksonville State and spent eight seasons in the Phillies organization.
As the MLB Draft continues with eight more rounds on Monday and the final 10 rounds on Tuesday, the Reds maintain their presence with picks in each round, aiming to bolster their roster with promising talent for the future.