As MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stepped up to the podium, Vols‘ third baseman Nick Senzel was waiting with his team to hear his name called by the commissioner.   

It was a short wait for Senzel. With the second overall pick in Thursday night’s MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Senzel, making him the highest position player ever drafted from Tennessee.  

Senzel was the No. 6 prospect coming into Thursday’s MLB Draft and was considered by most experts as the best bat in the draft. But Senzel was turning heads straight out of high school, as he was the No. 11 prospect in Tennessee coming out of Farragut High School in 2013.   

This past season, Senzel kept the Vols afloat despite team struggles. He led the team in hits, doubles, RBI’s and stolen bases, as his 25 steals on 29 attempts demonstrated his ability to be a “five tool” player. His patience in the batter’s box was apparent this season as well, as he walked 40 times and only struck out 21 times in his 210 at-bats.  

Senzel was also an ace in the field. His mid-season switch to shortstop showed his ability to field the ball cleanly and make smart plays where he needed to.  

The Knoxville native also impressed outside of Tennessee. This past summer, Senzel played in the Cape Cod wooden bat league, which is considered one of the most prestigious summer leagues in the country. He dominated and won MVP of the Cape Cod league as well as the 2015 Summer Collegiate Player of the year.  

In his three years with the Vols, Senzel started at least 50 games each season and saw his stats steadily increase throughout his time at UT. He finished with a career average of .332 with 13 HR and 126 RBI.