Reds wrap Day 1 of Draft with a pair of big righties

July 14th, 2025

CINCINNATI – After the Reds took shortstop Steele Hall with the ninth overall selection in the first round on Sunday, they made two more picks on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft.

Here is a look at who Cincinnati selected.

2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike
Day 1 (Rounds 1-3): Pick-by-pick analysis | Top storylines
Day 2 (Rounds 4-20): Round-by-round analysis

Round 2, pick 51

Aaron Watson, RHP (No. 45 Draft prospect)

  • School: Trinity Christian Academy (Florida)
  • Background info: At 6-foot-5, Watson is considered to have a good feel for pitching to go with improved stuff to give him a higher ceiling. His fastball sits in the low 90s but has reached 95 mph with sink for a lot of ground-ball outs. Has a curveball and split-changeup.
  • Quote: "Up to 96 mph with a really good sinker. It’s a sinker, slider, changeup profile. Really good projection to him. We had a chance to scout him all spring. Really like the upside there." – Reds amateur scouting director Joe Katuska

Round 3, pick 83

Mason Morris, RHP (No. 117 Draft prospect)

  • School: University of Mississippi
  • Background info: Another big kid at 6-foot-4, Morris was a shortstop when he got to college, but Ole Miss liked his arm strength and turned him into a relief pitcher.
  • Quote: "We think it’s a starting pitching profile. He has the size, athleticism, delivery and the pitch mix to do that. He was lengthened out significantly in the bullpen. He maintained his stuff and really got better over the course of the season. Fastball, cutter, slider, splitter mix from him. There’s a lot of untapped upside." – Katuska

The Draft will continue on Monday with Rounds 4-20.