ATLANTA – The Cincinnati Reds selected Steele Hall, a high school shortstop from Alabama, with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft Sunday night. He's the first high school hitter the Reds have taken in the first round since outfielder Austin Hendricks in 2020 (12th overall).

That's the kind of speed former Reds second-round pick Billy Hamilton had. Hamilton was one of the most exciting players to reach MLB for Cincinnati in the last quarter-century, but he simply didn't have enough power to stick around. Hall is the idealized version of Hamilton.

Tennessee shortstop commit Steele Hall was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Now, he has the chance to start his pro career. “Hall’s decision to reclassify for the 2025 Draft last November keeps looking better and better,

"There's so much less certainty of the grouping near the top," said Reds director of amateur scouting, Joe Katuska said.

Steele Hall originally committed to Tennessee baseball in the 2026 class, but reclassed to the 2025 class and was picked in the MLB Draft.

With the Reds' 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Francona earned his 2,000th career win. Francona becomes the 13th manager in MLB history to achieve the mark. The victory improved Cincinnati's record to 50-47 heading into the All-Star break.

One of the biggest storylines following the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft isn’t just about who got picked — it’s about what comes next. Tennessee baseball s

Picking ninth in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday, who the Reds will end up selecting is more up for grabs than when they took Chase Burns last year with the second overall pick. That hasn't altered the approach for Cincinnati's scouting department as it formulated its plan.