Cincinnati Reds center fielder Nick Senzel: 'I want to be here for my whole career'

GOODYEAR, Arizona – Nick Senzel didn’t try to pay attention to all the times his name was mentioned in trade rumors last winter, but friends and family sent him text messages each time a new rumor started.

Senzel understood why he was involved in more trade talks as the Reds pursued shortstop Francisco Lindor and other top targets. He was one of the top prospects in the sport entering the 2019 season. Many teams remain optimistic about his potential.

Recovering from surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, Senzel says he’s glad he remains in Reds camp. He will start spring training on a throwing program, which will likely force him to DH in the first week of exhibition games. He remains on track to play by Opening Day.

“This offseason was probably more legitimate than any other offseason, I’d say,” Senzel said of the trade rumors. “I’m happy to be here. I want to be here for my whole career. I want to play in Cincinnati for these fans and my teammates. Any time those talks come up or anything, there is literally nothing I can do about it. I have no control over it. The less I worry about it, the better.”

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When Senzel heard from his agency, he said they never seemed too concerned about the possible trade talks. The Reds reached out at one point too.

“That’s part of the business, especially when top names are getting thrown around,” Senzel said. “They are going to look to young guys, young, controllable players to swap in and out. As long as I keep playing well and doing my thing, I think my name is always going to be out there I feel like.”

Senzel, 24, had an up-and-down rookie season. He missed time at the start of the season with an ankle injury after the Reds told him he was starting the year in Triple-A, and he was sidelined for most of September because of his shoulder.

In his first 300 at-bats, Senzel hit .280 with 19 doubles, nine homers and 36 RBI. He tried to overhaul his swing afterward and ended the season in a deep slump, recording a .160 batting average in his last 25 games.

“I never really felt like I got into a rhythm last year anyway,” said Senzel, who finished the season with a .256 batting average and .315 on-base percentage. “I felt a little off. I don’t know why. Maybe it was because of the amount of time I missed lately, in 2018 and going into 2019. I don’t know what it was.”

Senzel says his focus at the plate during spring training will be his timing. He felt like he wasn’t consistent last year.

He will play only center field during spring training until his shoulder is fully healed. He could be an option for second base during the regular season, but the Reds want him to focus on one position during his throwing program.

MOOSE AT SECOND: It’s the second consecutive spring training that Mike Moustakas entered camp with his primary position as a second baseman.

Moustakas started last season as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Opening Day second baseman – his first time playing the position in the big leagues. He played 359 2/3 innings at the position before moving back to third base.

“Honestly, I felt comfortable with mostly everything,” Moustakas said. “I worked a lot in spring training. I got here early a lot. I did a lot of work early, turning double plays, flips and all that stuff. I think just the more reps I get, the more in-game reps I can get and honestly, (Brewers manager Craig) Counsell said it last year, ‘This guy needs to go out there and make mistakes at second base,’ so I can learn from them. That’s something I wanted to do in spring.”

Moustakas will primarily work with infield coach Delino DeShields this spring. With positioning and shifts, he does feel comfortable with the footwork at the position.

“It was funny, a couple of years ago, people were like you’ve never been on this side of the diamond,” Moustakas said. “I was like, no, I’ve been over here a ton. I was playing right field at one point as a third baseman.

"It was just more so the double plays, the cuts and relays, things like that. Obviously, with a new team, learning the bunt plays and all those other things. Those are what is going to be challenging. The cuts and relays, we’ll figure that stuff out as we go. There are only so many ways you can do that stuff."

OUT OF OPTIONS: The Reds have 10 players on their 40-man roster who are out of minor league options. If they don’t make the Opening Day roster, they must be placed on waivers.

The 10 players include pitchers Trevor Bauer, Amir Garrett, Cody Reed, Lucas Sims, Robert Stephenson and Pedro Strop, catcher Curt Casali, shortstop Freddy Galvis and outfielders Phillip Ervin and Scott Schebler.