CINCINNATI -- There were weeks, months and sometimes years of scouting games and showcases, filling out reports and evaluations, and conducting interviews. All of it went into the last three days as the Reds navigated through the 2024 MLB Draft.

And just like that, it's over.

“I am real happy with the process and the way the guys continued to fight all the way through the Draft," Reds amateur scouting director Joe Katuska said. "We continue messaging to our guys that there are big leaguers on the board still after Day 2. It’s our job to find out which ones they are and try to get them to us.”

Fifteen of the Reds' 21 picks came from college baseball programs. Overall, there were 11 pitchers taken.

The Reds already have a few Day 3 Draft finds in their Top 30 prospects list per MLB Pipeline in outfielder Blake Dunn (No. 10) and starting pitchers Julian Aguiar (No. 16) and Adam Serwinowski (No. 29).

“We really dig in on it after Day 2," Katuska said. "All of our area scouts tend to circle back with the players and let their regional crosschecker know which ones they’re really interested in and which ones they think have the ability to impact the system.”

• Reds feeling fortunate with early Day 2 Draft picks

Here are some takeaways from the past three days:

Starters wanted, but also relievers found
The Reds often like to get starting pitchers in the Draft, and they did get some in Luke Holman (Competitive Balance Round B), Tristan Smith (Round 5) and Luke Hayden (Round 8). However, they did get more relievers than usual -- especially on Day 3.

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Relievers selected included Will Cannon (Round 12), Jordan Little (Round 15), Jimmy Romano (Round 16) and Trent Hodgdon (Round 17).

“They were just the best ones that stacked up," Katuska said. "We prioritize starting pitchers, but it’s really hard finding those starting pitchers outside of the top 10 rounds. So we prioritized guys with stuff that throw strikes. I think we got a decent number of them there.”

No fear of cold weather
Not all prospects hail from Florida, Texas or Arizona, and schools from the Deep South and West Coast aren't the only ones that have baseball teams. There is baseball in the Rust Belt too, and multiple players were taken from non-traditional places by the Reds.

High school shortstop Tyson Lewis, selected with the 51st overall pick in the second round, is from Nebraska. The No. 71 pick, Holman, may have gone to LSU, but he hails from Pennsylvania. Hayden hails from Bloomington, Ind., and went to Indiana State. The 13th-rounder, outfielder Anthony Stephan, was taken out of Virginia and calls New Jersey home.

• Draft Tracker: Here's every player Reds selected

Last year's second-rounder, shortstop Sammy Stafura, was a New York high schooler as well.

“There’s usually some untapped upside on those guys because they haven’t been playing year-round from the time they are 6 years old," Katuska said. "A lot of them just can’t play baseball all year so they’re playing other sports and developing their athleticism in different ways. With pro instruction, there’s a little more in front of them than there is with guys from other parts of the country at times.”

Lewis was the first player from Nebraska taken in the MLB Draft since 2019.

“Cold weather, we’re stuck inside all the time and don’t get to play as much as those East Coast-West Coast guys. So, it’s a big thing," Lewis said. "Honestly for me, I’m confident in myself. I know I can play with those guys. Coming off the summer circuit and being around those types of dudes, I felt really comfortable being around those guys, and I kind of fit right in. I’m just excited to get going.”

Not skipping the tropics
Cincinnati hadn't selected a player from Puerto Rico since the organization also took three in 2019. In the 10th round, they took Yanuel Casiano, a 17-year-old catcher.

Tuesday's opening pick in the 11th round brought right-handed pitcher Edgar Colon and shortstop Adrian Areizaga was taken in the 14th round.

“Those are guys we’re pretty excited about. We think we’ll be able to get to the finish line and get them signed," Katuska said. "Edgar is a really projectable right-handed pitcher. We’ve seen him up to 96 [mph]. He has a starter delivery. He has three pitches. He’s a projectable kid. There’s a lot to work with there.

"[Areizaga] has power and a plus arm. He has good actions in the field. Another exciting guy. Both are committed to the University of Miami, so they’ll probably try to fight us a little bit and get them on campus. But we’re very optimistic we can come to an agreement with both players.”