CINCINNATI -- Pitcher Tyler Mahle's performances in 2017 were too good to not give him his first big league promotion to the Reds. Third baseman Nick Senzel could give the organization a similar scenario next season. Both clearly have bright futures ahead.
Mahle was named the Reds' Minor League pitcher of the year, and Senzel was named the team's Minor League player of the Year by MLBPipeline.com.
Reds' Prospects of the Year
Senzel is the Reds' No. 1 and the No. 8 overall prospect. Mahle is the organization's No. 4 prospect and No. 77 in the Top 100.
Over 119 games with Class A Advanced Dayton and Double-A Pensacola, Senzel batted .321/.391/.514 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs.

Senzel, 22, was promoted to Double-A on June 22 and his numbers actually improved against tougher pitching. He batted .340/.413/.560 with 10 home runs in 57 games.
"Guys are a little bit better, but it's the same game," Senzel said of the Double-A level just before he participated in Sirius-XM All-Star Futures Game at Miami. "You just have to prepare and put yourself in the best position to be successful."
In 24 starts for Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville this season, Mahle was 10-7 with 2.06 ERA. Over his 144 1/3 innings, he had a 0.96 WHIP with 30 walks and 138 strikeouts.

Mahle's season also included throwing a perfect game on April 22 for Pensacola. Following his promotion to Louisville on June 22, he was 3-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 10 starts. The Reds called him up on Aug. 26 and he didn't turn 23 until Sept. 29.
"He didn't skip a beat going from Double-A to Triple-A," Reds manager Bryan Price said when the club decided to promote Mahle to the big leagues. "A lot of guys when they make that advance want to test the waters a little bit, but he went right after the hitters."
Each team's hitting and pitching Prospects of the Year were chosen by the MLBPipeline.com staff. To receive consideration, players must have spent at least half the year in the Minors, appeared on the team's Top 30 Prospects list and played the entire year in the organization.