three prep place gamers Cincinnati ought to goal in Spherical 1

CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 14: A close-up of a hat and baseball glove in the dugout with the New Era logo before a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Jamie Sabau / Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***

The Cincinnati Reds are number 17 in the 2021 MLB Draft. Unlike the NFL or the NBA, most players inducted into the Major League Baseball Draft will not have an immediate impact, and it can take up to four years to see some of the best high schools -Talents find their way into a major league field.

However, some of the best potential is found in the ranks of high school. Last summer, the Reds chose Austin Hendrick with their first round pick and the hard-hitting outfielder has shown a lot of promise. What top preparation prospects could the Reds aim for in the first round of the MLB draft 2021?

1. The Reds could pick Pennsylvania outfielder Benny Montgomery.

The Cincinnati Reds have an affinity for prep players from the state of Pennsylvania. If the nimble Benny Montgomery is still available when the Reds hit 17th, Nick Krall and the Cincinnati front office could be Lewisberry’s toolless outfielder anywhere.

Montgomery owns elite speed. The outfielder is a plus defender who also has above-average power. The concern at Montgomery is its momentum and lack of potential, something Boy Scouts see from many high school prospects.

Montgomery, who attends Red Land High School, has pledged to play for the University of Virginia next season, but a first-round spot would likely be enough to dissuade the 18-year-old from his college engagement.

Benny Montgomery has elite tools across the board, and there’s a good chance the prep star will be off the board if Cincinnati makes its picks in the middle of Round 1. After seeing Austin Hendrick and Michael Siani of the state of Pennsylvania in the past few years, it’s good that the Reds’ scouts are keeping an eye on Montgomery.