Reds focus on collegiate ranks on Day 2 of Draft

July 10th, 2023

CINCINNATI -- Sticking with a trend from recent Drafts, the Reds largely selected college players on Day 2 of the 2023 MLB Draft. But when it came to the positions of selections on Monday, Cincinnati diversified to add depth all over the field.

“We had a pretty balanced group of position players and pitchers, righties and lefties, up the middle guys, power corner guys -- kind of all the different boxes were checked," Reds amateur scouting director Joe Katuska said.

Monday featured selections from Rounds 3-10. Here is a breakdown of the Reds' Day 2 picks:

Third round (74th overall): Hunter Hollan, LHP, Arkansas
A starter, Hollan was 8-2 with a 4.13 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) and one complete game in his lone season with the Razorbacks. Over 80 2 ⁄ 3 innings, he notched 74 strikeouts. The 21-year-old was dealing with a minor knee injury that was concealed during the spring. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 100 prospect in the Draft. The slot value of the pick is $975,100.

Fun fact: In 2021, Hollan was the Brewers' 15th-round pick out of Spring Hill High School in Texas, but he opted to go to San Jacinto College, the same school that produced former Major League star pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. Hollan helped the school reach the Junior College World Series.

Quotable: "They kind of hid [the injury] from everyone because he just wanted to keep taking the ball. We just loved the competitiveness, the three-pitch mix. … We saw a lot more velocity in the fall and when we pieced everything together at the end, we understood why he fell. The fastball wasn’t quite as big this spring. We don’t see a reason why it won’t be back.” -- Katuska

Fourth round (105th overall): Cole Schoenwetter, RHP, San Marcos H.S. (Calif.)
At 18 years old, Schoenwetter is the No. 43-ranked Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline and has a college commitment to UC Santa Barbara. According to scouting reports, the 6-foot-3 right-hander throws his fastball in the 92-94 mph range, but it plays harder because of its spin and his ability to command the pitch up in the zone for swings and misses. He also has a plus curveball and an above-average changeup.

Fun fact: Schoenwetter's father, Ned, told the Santa Barbara Independent newspaper that his son could throw 70 mph as a 12-year-old pitcher. When he was 11, Schoenwetter began working with Tom Myers -- a pitching coach and area scout for the Dodgers.

Quotable: "It’s a three-pitch mix with young athletic legs we liked when we saw him.” -- Katuska

Fifth round (141st overall): Connor Burns, C, Long Beach State
Burns, 21, started all 56 games he played this season, and he batted .300/.368/.596 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs. He was named a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. For the second straight year, he was an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist.

Fun fact: Burns attended Lugo High School in Chino, Calif., which produced former Major League All-Star closer Chad Cordero.

Quotable: “That catcher is as good a catcher I’ve seen in a long time. Burns is completely real behind the plate. He’s a premier frontline Major League catcher in the future. No question." -- UCLA head coach John Savage to D1Baseball

Sixth round (168th overall): Ethan O'Donnell, OF, Virginia
The 21-year-old O'Donnell was a first-team all-ACC selection in 2023 after he transferred from Northwestern. In 65 games this season, the lefty hitter batted .354 with a 1.034 OPS, 13 homers, 57 RBIs and 18 steals. Defensively, he committed one error and was a Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner.

Fun fact: In the summer of 2022, O'Donnell played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a wooden bat league that preps many future pro players. Reds second baseman Jonathan India played for Harwich in 2016-17 and was a first-round selection in 2018.

Quotable: "We saw him in the fall and were impressed. It’s a nice looking swing. He has five tools. None of them are the loudest tools, but every one of them plays. He has a center field profile, he can run, he has power, he can throw. He checked a lot of boxes. We were probably surprised we could get him where we did." -- Katuska

Seventh round (198th overall): Dominic Pitelli, SS, Miami (Fla.)
A left-handed-hitting infielder, Pitelli batted .294 with a .905 OPS, 13 homers and 54 RBIs in 63 games for the Hurricanes.

Fun fact: On May 16 vs. Florida International, Pitelli hit a grand slam and notched seven RBIs during a 17-3 Miami win. It was his second grand slam in eight days.

Quotable: "He fits at shortstop defensively, has a plus arm, he’s going to be able to move around the dirt if needed. He can play shortstop, but he has that versatility. There’s sneaky power in the bat. He just needs to make sure he keeps the approach to fit his strengths and not try to get too big." -- Katuska

Eighth round (228th overall): Carter Graham, 1B, Stanford
Graham, 21, batted .315 with a .949 OPS, 15 homers and 77 RBIs in 64 games this season. He helped get the Cardinal to the College World Series, but they took a 3-2 loss to No. 1 seed Wake Forest, who had Reds first-round pick Rhett Lowder as its starting pitcher.

Fun fact: In 2022, Graham played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for Wareham, a team that counts Kyle Schwarber, Barry Zito and Nick Swisher among its former players.

Quotable: "Very consistent offensive performer for the last two years taking them to the College World Series. It’s a power bat, first base profile. Really enjoyable kid to be around, good makeup. Tough-nosed competitive kid, comes from an athletic background. A lot to like there." -- Katuska

Ninth round (258th overall): Logan Van Treeck, LHP, Lipscomb
A 22-year-old from Nebraska, Van Treeck was 8-5 with a 3.67 ERA in 17 games (10 starts) this season while striking out 108 batters in 88 1/3 innings. He was named the ASUN Pitcher of the Year.

Fun fact: Van Treeck turned his college career around after a disastrous 2022 season, when he had an 11.69 ERA with 24 walks and 24 strikeouts in 13 games and only 22 1/3 innings.

Quotable: “This wasn’t a thought, a dream or even a possibility in my mind a year ago,” he said. “It wasn’t even something I wanted to pursue, given the season I had last year. To even be in this position… to me, is a testament to what the Lord has been doing in my life the past year.” -- Van Treeck to Main Street Nashville

10th round (288th overall): Graham Osman, LHP, Long Beach State
Osman went 6-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 starts. In 78 1/3 innings, he walked 33 and struck out 89 batters.

Fun fact: The first three seasons of Osman's college career were spent at Arizona State, where he was primarily a reliever.

Quotable: "They didn’t have the cleanest paths. We saw them compete and battle all year. There’s a chance we’re looking at a starting pitching profile. Probably guys that will be really tough in the bullpen as left-handed relievers. They have the pitch mix for it. Guys that have paths in front of them to be successful."  -- Katuska on Van Treeck and Osman