'I'm going back to what I do': Cincinnati Reds' Nick Senzel plans to return to old swing

Bobby Nightengale | Cincinnati Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Mike Moustakas explains why he signed with the Cincinnati Reds Mike Moustakas discusses his decision to sign with the Cincinnati Reds and his willingness to play second base next year.

As much as the Cincinnati Reds will try to improve their offense during the offseason, they will still be counting on a strong second season from Nick Senzel.

One key for Senzel will be remaining healthy. He remains on track for the start of next season after he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder and missed the final three weeks of the 2019 season. He plans to begin hitting and throwing in the second week of January, which isn’t far from when he typically begins ramping up for spring training.

“It's something I pondered not doing, not getting the surgery, but when I think back, I'm glad I did because it was just going to get worse,” Senzel said. “I'm excited about it. Just excited to get back in the swing of things. I'm already in Arizona, so just enjoying some warm weather and rehab.”

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When Senzel was playing regularly last season, he had his ups and downs. He produced a .256 batting average and .315 on-base percentage with 12 home runs, 20 doubles and 42 RBI. After hitting .280 in his first 79 games, he hit .160 in his last 25 games with four extra-base hits.

He changed his stance at the end of the season, standing taller and more open at the plate, which contributed to his struggles. He says he will return to his original stance next year.

“I'm going back to what I do,” Senzel said. “I knew going into that, that there was going to be failures. I knew that. It wasn't just I was going to change something at the big league level and that my numbers were going to stay the same – I knew that going in. It's obviously frustrating when you're going through it.

“I was just trying something out and it didn't work, so I'll go back to what I've been doing since I was 5 years old. I don't really have any regrets. It is what it is, and we move on.”

Senzel is expected to remain in center field next year after the Reds signed Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract to play second base. He saw Moustakas when he visited Reds Medical Director Dr. Timothy Kremchek for a check-up earlier this week.

It will be the first time in a couple of years that he can remain focused on one position. The Reds experimented with Senzel at shortstop during spring training in 2018. He primarily played second base at Triple-A Louisville, and then he started learning the outfield last spring.

“At the end of the year, they told me that I'll be playing center field unless something happens,” Senzel said. “I'm pretty excited about knowing actually where I'm going to play, going into spring training. Things happen like that. Wherever they tell me to play, I'll play. But yeah, it is very refreshing to know I can go in knowing where I'm going to play and I'll have a spot.”

The Reds are confident that Senzel will improve offensively and defensively during the 2020 season. He was the No. 2 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft and considered one of the top prospects in the sport when he made his major league debut in May.

“You look at this lineup, (Eugenio) Suárez, (Joey Votto), there is a ton of guys that I’m really excited to see what they can do,” Moustakas said. “(Jesse) Winker, I’m really excited to see what he can do, Senzel, these are phenomenal baseball players. I think the sky is the limit for those two kids.”

Does Senzel sense a different type of expectation for next year?

“Obviously, as a team, we have to play better, and we know that,” Senzel said. “As a player, I have to play better and I know that as well. I don't really know anything about expectations. I just go out there and enjoy it. I feel the more I enjoy it, the less I worry about expectations or pressure, the better. I'll go out, enjoy it, have fun and win games.”

There was some frustration for Senzel that an injury cut his season short for the second consecutive year – he fractured a finger at Triple-A in 2018 – but he says his mind is in a good place this offseason.

“You can look at it one of two ways, you can either be down about it or you can be positive and attack the process,” Senzel said. “That’s kind of how I’ve taken it. I’ve been really happy about the progress.”