:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59952109/usa_today_10132235.0.jpg)
With the 5th overall pick in the draft, the Cincinnati Reds have selected third baseman Jonathan India from the University of Florida. In mock drafts, India was projected to go 12th by ESPN and 5th by Baseball America.
India has been regarded as the best all-around player in the college ranks this season after having so-so seasons as a freshman and sophomore. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitter leads the defending national champion Gators with a .362 batting average, 17 home runs and a 1.225 OPS. The 21-year-old recently earned Baseball America First Team All-American honors and was named the SEC Player of the Year.
India has shown he can impact the game in a ton of ways. He has the ability to hit for average, he’s a solid runner, has a strong arm and can field at a ton of different positions. Because he is close to having above average skills already and has put them on display in the toughest college conference in the nation, India should be a valuable player to the Reds as they continue to improve their organization.
Get a look at India at the plate here: