Senzel hits first pro homer on big night

Nick Senzel didn't take long to justify the Reds' selection of him with the second overall pick in last month's Draft.

The 21-year-old third baseman went 4-for-5 with his first professional homer and four RBIs while falling a double shy of the cycle Monday as Class A Dayton downed visiting Wisconsin, 8-3.

The four hits and four RBIs were career highs for the University of Tennessee product, who is slashing .322/.420/.508 in his first 15 Midwest League games. 

Dayton hitting coach Luis Bolivar said Senzel's early success is no surprise.

"I see a guy that has a lot of potential," he said. "A very smart hitter who knows the strike zone very well. He's very patient, and the games don't go so fast for him. He had a great night. He just missed that double for the cycle."

The Atlanta native had been 0-for-his-last-12 entering Monday. He snapped that slump with a triple to right field and scored on a wild pitch by Wisconsin starter Thomas Jankins in the first inning.

Senzel brought home Reydel Medina with an infield single in the second before he struck out in the fourth. With Shed Long on first, Senzel fell behind 0-2 before clubbing his first career long ball over the wall in left-center two innings later. 

"We were talking about him hitting a home run when he was at first earlier in the game," Bolivar said. "He told me, 'I should have hit that one out' after he singled. So I just mentioned that the homers will come when you don't look for them. After he went deep, he came back into the dugout smiling and said, 'I didn't try for it there.'" 

Needing a double to complete the cycle, Senzel settled for a single to center in the eighth. Bolivar hopes to see that consistent approach through the end of the season.

"Since he's been here, he's worked well," he said. "He keeps his routine consistent and hasn't changed anything since he got here. He had a few games with no hits, but he's staying focused and concentrating on what he needs to be doing. Some days will be good, some will be bad, but the game seems so slow for him. He works real hard and has a great work ethic.

"I just want him to stay the same. Take his walks and not let the strike zone get too big. I've told him, 'You know your zone, don't chase out of that whether they call it a ball or a strike.' He does a nice job of hitting to both sides of the field, so just keep doing the same thing."

Reds' No. 6 prospect Tyler Stephenson went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Dragons. Chris Okey and Long collected two hits and scored two runs apiece in the 14-hit attack.

Dayton starter Tanner Rainey (3-7), the Reds' 29th-ranked prospect, allowed three runs on four hits and a career-high six walks while striking out four over five innings.

Milwaukee's No. 11 prospect Isan Diaz hit his 13th homer for Wisconsin.

Jankins (0-1) surrendered three earned runs on eight hits and a walk in three frames for the Timber Rattlers.