GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Taylor Trammell was taken with the 35th overall selection in the 2016 Draft out of the Georgia high school ranks, and the Reds gave him an above-pick value deal of $3.2 million to sign instead of going to Georgia Tech. The former two-sport standout had a solid pro debut in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, hitting .303/.374/.421 with 24 stolen bases. He's the Reds' No. 5 prospect.
MLBPipeline.com: You've been out here a while already. What has the program the Reds had you come in and do early been like?
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Trammell: They invited me to strength camp, and it's a great opportunity to get out here early, get to be with a lot of the other guys out here. We're working hard. It's fun. We're playing baseball for our job. It's a great way to build our team up together. That's what they're trying to do, and it's wonderful. I'm having the time of my life right now, and I'm pretty sure it's going to pay off.
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MLBPipeline.com: As a two-sport guy in high school, you were always doing something. How different was it for you to focus on just one? And you must be champing at the bit to get out and play games, right?
Trammell: I've always played two sports my entire life, but I got it out of my system. I had fun with football, but at the same time, this is my job now. I'm focused on this. This is the game I actually love. I really enjoy watching football, but I don't see myself out there.
The only thing I did this fall was get ready for the season. I'm trying to do my thing and I know it's going to be a long season. I'm trying not to go 110 percent every single time. I'm trying to pick the brains of the big league guys on how to go about my first full season. I'm really anxious to get out there, face some pitchers, steal some bases. I'm really excited for it. I'm really confident in the work I put in this offseason. I woke up every day at 6:30 and worked out, got my work in, hit every day. I got myself ready for the season.
MLBPipeline.com: Tell me about your pro debut. You performed really well. Were you at all surprised at how well you did out of the gate?
Trammell: The first summer was fun. I set high standards for myself. I set what most people would consider impossible standards. I like to reach for those goals. Sometimes, you might surprise yourself. I was really proud of myself. Going into the summer before the Draft, I thought I was going to go to college. Going and working my tail off for my high school season and getting to the Draft and getting picked by the Reds, I was so thankful and so humbled, because I worked so hard at it. I know that it's not over yet, but that first season was something I thought that I could build off of it my entire career. I plan on having a better year this year than last summer. I'm looking forward to it, that's why I'm so anxious to get out there.
MLBPipeline.com: Your parents value education, you thought you were going to head to Georgia Tech. How difficult of a decision was it to put that aside and start your career?
Trammell: I took a lot of things into consideration. I had a number value in mind with my agent and my family. I told them if I don't get this amount, I'd go to college. I was happy about whatever decision I would've made. That was something we talked about as a family. My parents were all for my decision to enter pro ball once the day came. At the same time, I will get my education. I value that. I plan on going back at some point in the future.
MLBPipeline.com: If you and Tyler Stephenson had gone on to college, you'd be at Georgia Tech together. That'd be a pretty good college team. Do you guys talk about that at all?
Trammell: We talk about it a good bit. Me and Tyler are pretty close. We always talk about if we had gone there and how our Draft paths are kind of the same. My high school is about a mile away from his high school. We were both drafted in the first round by the Reds. We talk about it all the time. John Poloni, the area scout for the Reds, is an awesome guy. He texts me all the time. He is one of the nicest human beings, genuine people, you'll ever meet.