The Reds picked Nick Travieso, a right-hander from McCarthy High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with the 14th pick in the draft. Travieso, a 6-foot-3, 210 pounder, went 8-1 with a 0.76 ERA this year. He struck out 100 and walked 17 in 65 innings.
He throws up to 99 mph.
"I've been blessed by God with the ability to throw that hard," he said. "I typically sit at 93 to 95, but I've gotten up to 99."
Travieso has committed with University of Miami, but it sounds as if he's signable.
"Right now, I am looking forward to signing professionally and get my career started," Travieso said. "Hopefully I'll get to Cincinnati as quickly as I can to help the big-league team win a World Series."
Travieso played on the same high school team as Nick Arias, son of the Reds' director of Latin American scouting, Tony Arias.
"Sometimes, you feel like you have a little advantage when you have that kind of information," Reds scouting director Chris Buckley said. "We're hoping we knew some things others didn't."
He was the 40th-ranked player in Baseball America's draft preview issue.
"His dad's handled him very well," Buckley said. "He limited his innings. He really looked after him. Sometimes, when guys don't participate in all events somebody holds that against them. We had him right up there to pick him."
NOTES, QUOTES
Francis leaves Reds' Triple-A team
--LHP Jeff Francis opted out of his contract with the Reds and became a free agent. He had an out on June 1. Francis was 3-6 with 3.72 ERA for Triple-A Louisville. He may re-sign with the Reds if he cannot find a job in the big leagues.
--RHP Homer Bailey will try to continue his roll Tuesday night when he starts against the Pirates in the series opener. Bailey is 6-0 with a 1.79 ERA in eight starts against the Pirates.
--LHP Aroldis Chapman has not allowed a hit in his last 7 2/3 innings, covering seven outings. He has struck out 14 and walked two over that span.
--RHP Alfredo Simon has allowed only one earned run over his last 17 1/3 innings and 10 appearances. He's done that despite allowing the first batter to reach in eight of those appearances.
--RHP J.J. Hoover is 1-0 with 1.98 ERA. But he's struggled with inherited runners, allowing five of 10 to score.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- That's how many off days the Reds have had the last five days after playing 20 straight days.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've followed him my whole life. He's my idol. I have the same mentality he did when he was on the mound." -- Reds top pick Nick Travieso, on Roger Clemens
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He threw on flat ground May 24 for the first time. There is no timetable for his return.
--LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville on April 29, but he moved back to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after one outing. He resumed throwing May 28, and he threw a bullpen session June 1. He might be able to start a rehab assignment in early June.
--3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12. He had yet to resume baseball activities on May 29.
--RHP Ryan Madson (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He is out for the season.
