Reds promote Shed Long, Nick Senzel to Class AA Pensacola

C. Trent Rosecrans | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Subscribe to the Great American Dream podcast Shed Long is a minor league player hoping to make his way to the big leagues. C. Trent Rosecrans invites listeners along his journey with a new podcast.

Shed Long is one step closer to his Great American Dream.

The Reds second base prospect has been promoted from high-Class A Daytona to Double-A Pensacola, he told The Enquirer on Wednesday.

Long, 21, has been the subject of The Enquirer podcast “Great American Dream,” chronicling life in baseball’s minor leagues as he works his way toward the big leagues.

Long was ranked as one of the team’s top prospects coming into the season, rated No. 16 in the team’s farm system by Baseball America, and he’s only improved his standing with his performance at Daytona.

With the Tortugas, Long hit .312/.380/.543 with 13 home runs in 62 games. He was third in the Florida State League in batting and home runs. This past weekend, Long was a starter in the Florida State League All-Star Game, going 2-for-2 and scoring twice on home runs by fellow Reds prospect Gavin LaValley.

The Tortugas’ first half ended on Wednesday, with the team falling just short of the playoffs. In the minor leagues, seasons are split into two halves, with the champions of each half earning playoff berths at the end of the season.

The team he was promoted to, the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, won the first-half division crown in the Southern League’s South Division.

The Reds have made several promotions and will announce new rosters on Thursday. Among those who have been promoted is Long’s teammate in Daytona – and now Pensacola – third baseman Nick Senzel, the second overall pick in last year’s draft and top-rated prospect in the Reds' system. Senzel tweeted that he was back in his home state of Tennessee. The Blue Wahoos begin a five-game series in Chattanooga on Thursday. Senzel, who turns 22 next week, hit .305/.371/.476 at Daytona with four home runs and 31 RBI. He also hit 26 doubles in his 62 games with the Tortugas.

LaValley, the Most Valuable Player of the Florida State League All-Star Game, was also promoted to Pensacola. Also moving up to the Blue Wahoos is reliever Jake Ehret.

Moving from Pensacola to Triple-A Louisville is second baseman Alex Blandino and right-hander Tyler Mahle.

The Reds have also promoted third baseman Brantley Bell, shortstop Luis Gonzalez, first baseman James Vazquez and reliever Ryan Hendrix from low-Class A Dayton to Daytona.

The latest episode of Great American Dream was released on Monday. It told the story of how Reds scouts found Long before drafting him in the 12th round of the 2013 draft. Episode 6 will be released July 3 and chronicle his All-Star Game appearance, promotion to Double-A and the friendships made in the minor leagues that can last a lifetime.

Great American Dream is available on The Enquirer Reds app, iTunes, Stitcher Radio and SoundCloud.