Zach Buchanan

zbuchanan@enquirer.com

Last week, the Cincinnati Reds released their list of prospects invited to participate in big-league spring training in two months. The most notable thing about it was who didn’t make the cut.

There was no Nick Senzel, the team’s top draft pick a year ago, nor Alfredo Rodriguez, the team’s top international signing of 2016. Highly drafted catchers Chris Okey and Tyler Stephenson were also left off. Cuban right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez is the lone top prospect in camp who is not on the 40-man roster, but his invite was negotiated as part of his agreement to sign with the Reds earlier in the year.

But that doesn’t mean the door is closed for those top prospects. The Reds currently have 59 players headed to big-league camp, and player development director Jeff Graupe said the team is hoping to end up somewhere in the mid-60s. He’s leaving room for any additions from outside the organization, although more room could be created if various Reds players choose to participate in the World Baseball Classic.

“It’s a little bit of a floating number that we’re shooting for,” Graupe said. “We may supplement the names we’ve already committed to with guys who haven’t been asked it.”

Reds Beat Podcast 11

If there’s an open spot, it’s not guaranteed to go to Senzel, the team’s top overall prospect according to MLB.com, or any other marquee name. The Reds’ current minor-league invitees are best characterized as Triple-A depth, with a realistic shot to play in the majors in 2017 if they don’t win a job in camp. With more Opening Day roster spots unsettled heading into the season, there’s less room for players who aren’t on the cusp of the big leagues.

There’s also the adjustment factor. Senzel, Okey and Rodriguez will be entering their first spring training as professionals, and could theoretically benefit from starting in minor-league camp. Stephenson is only 20 and missed much of last season due to injury, and could use the increased developmental attention he’d get in the minors as well.

Even if invited, all of them could end up back in minor-league camp when the first round of cuts are made in early March.

“We treat it on a case-by-case basis,” Graupe said. “I do think that first spring training for a pro can be difficult. There are benefits to that being in big-league camp and there are drawbacks. We’re doing to weigh those for each guy. We haven’t committed to anything on those guys yet.”