CINCINNATI -- The Reds selected catcher Chris Okey with their second-round pick -- No. 43 overall -- in the 2016 MLB Draft on Thursday.
From Clemson University, Okey is a 21-year-old who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. In 64 games this season, he hit .339/.465/.611 with 15 home runs and 74 RBIs.
• 2nd overall pick: Nick Senzel
• 35th overall pick: Taylor Trammell
The Draft continues on Friday with Rounds 3-10. The MLB.com preview show begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-10 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
:: Complete 2016 Draft coverage ::
A year ago, the Reds used a high pick on a catcher when they selected Tyler Stephenson 11th overall. That has no bearing on the organization's motives this year, as its practice is to always pluck the best available player on its Draft board.
"We did that a few years back with Devin [Mesoraco in 2007] and Yasmani Grandal [in 2010]," Reds senior director of amateur scouting Chris Buckley said. "We thought he was the best player up there. It's a hard position to find. This year, there was a little more depth at that position."
According to the Greenville News in South Carolina, Okey was a regular player immediately as a freshman and started each of the 186 games Clemson had during his college career.
A native of Mount Dora, Fla., Okey was ranked No. 46 among the MLBPipeline Top 200 Draft prospects. He was previously drafted by the Padres in 2013 out of high school.

"He's a guy we've followed since high school," Buckley said. "We almost picked him in high school. He's a very polished catcher. He's got a chance to be a complete catcher. He swings the bat and plays solid defense."

With their two earlier 2016 Draft picks on Thursday, the Reds also selected third baseman Nick Senzel from the University of Tennessee with the No. 2 overall pick. In Competitive Lottery Round A, the Reds took high school outfielder Taylor Trammell from Kennesaw, Ga., with the 35th overall pick.