Reds reportedly have deal with 85th overall pick

Contract with prep 3B Callihan would exceed slot value

June 7th, 2019

The Reds have reportedly agreed to terms with high school third baseman Tyler Callihan on a $1.5 million deal, sources confirmed to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman was first to report the deal, which the Reds have not confirmed.

The reported terms far exceed the $710,000 slot value for the 85th overall pick that Cincinnati used to take Callihan in the third round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday. Callihan, a senior from Providence (Fla.) High School, was MLB Pipeline’s No. 35 Draft prospect entering this week, and was scouted as a hitter with an advanced approach and innate ability to barrel up the baseball. The biggest question surrounding Callihan is where he’ll play defensively; his arm could play from third base, but there are worries about his range at the hot corner at the big league level.

Callihan shined for Team USA during its gold-medal run last winter at the 2018 COPABE U-18 Pan-American tournament in Panama, hitting .528 over nine games and going 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the championship final.