Draft Profile: Nick Senzel

June 7th, 2016

With the 2016 Draft fast approaching, we take a closer look at the top prospects in this year's class. 
Name: Nick Senzel
Position: 3B
School: Tennessee
Rank on Draft Top 200: 7
DOB: 6/29/1995
Bats: R Throws: R
Height: 6'1" Weight: 205 lbs.
Previously drafted: Never
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(Future grades on 20-80 scouting scale)
Hit: 55
Power: 50
Run: 50
Arm: 55
Field: 55
Overall: 55
Stats
Games: 57
AB: 210
Avg. .352
OBP:.456
HR: 8
RBI: 59
SB: 25
Scouting report
Senzel established himself as a productive college hitter during his first two seasons at Tennessee, then boosted his stock considerably with his performance in the Cape Cod League last summer. He led the Cape in runs (33), hits (56), doubles (16), RBIs (33), extra-base hits (21), total bases (86), slugging (.558) and OPS (.976), earning MVP honors and winning the league's Top Prospect Award from scouts. Undrafted out of a Tennessee high school in 2013, Senzel could be the first position player selected this year and pass Todd Helton (No. 8 overall in 1995) as the highest pick in Volunteers history. He combines strength and bat speed from the right side of the plate, and his patient all-fields approach should help him hit for both average and power. Senzel exhibits average to solid speed and has the instincts to steal a few bases. Coming into the year, there were questions about where Senzel should play at the next level. Primarily a DH as a freshman and a second baseman as a sophomore, he has worked hard to become a solid third baseman. There were never any worries about his arm, and there are no longer doubts about his hands and quickness.
MLB comp: Colin Moran
Fun fact: Senzel earned the No. 1 spot on ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays for diving over the railing into the opposing dugout to make a sensational catch against Auburn on April 15.
He said it: "I would always ask my dad. Even coming into freshman year of high school, I was probably 5-foot-5, a buck twenty. I'd see all the bigger guys and just come home like, 'Dad, when am I going to grow? When am I going to get big?' He just said, 'Just wait.'"
-- Senzel to the Knoxville News Sentinel's Dustin Dopirak.
They said it: "It's been pretty special to watch him this year. He hits some balls into the night at times."
-- Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano, to Dopirak