Reds have top-10 pick in MLB Draft for fourth straight season

Texas Christian pitcher could be the choice for Cincinnati

The Major League Baseball Draft begins Monday at 7 p.m. The Cincinnati Reds have a top-10 pick for the fourth straight season and for the ninth time in the last 20 years.

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Here are five things to know about the draft:

1. Pick potential: The last time the Reds picked seventh, they selected catcher Yonder Alonso. He has had a successful career — a .261 career average in 10 seasons — but is now with his sixth team. The Reds traded him to the San Diego Padres along with Brad Boxberger, Yasmani Grandal and Edinson Volquez for Mat Latos in 2011.

2. No guarantees: Six of the players the Reds have drafted in the top 10 in the last 20 years — Nick Senzel, Mike Leake, Alonso, Drew Stubbs, Homer Bailey and Austin Kearns — have played in the big leagues. Two recent picks, Hunter Greene and Jonathan India, may still do so. Chris Gruler, the No. 3 overall pick in 2002, never made it to the major-league level because of shoulder problems.

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3. Possible choices: A MLB.com mock draft predicted the Reds would select left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo, of Texas Christian University. He's 6-6 with a 2.36 ERA as a junior. His team is playing in the NCAA Regionals this weekend.

4. Following draft: The first round of the draft will air live on the MLB Network and on MLB.com. Coverage continues on MLB.com in the second round. The second day of the draft, which includes rounds three through 10, begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Day three begins at noon Wednesday. It includes rounds 11-40.

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5. Picking first: The Baltimore Orioles have the top pick for the second time and for the first time since 1989 when they drafted pitcher Ben McDonald. Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman is expected to be the top pick. He's so good the Cincinnati Bearcats intentionally walked him with the bases loaded on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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