The Los Angeles Dodgers took note of Nick Senzel’s early-season success with Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. The Cincinnati Reds’ 2016 first-round pick signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers after posting an impressive 1.790 OPS with three home runs and 10 RBI in his first 10 games in the Mexican League.

Senzel was non-tendered by the Reds following the 2023 season and signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Washington Nationals during the offseason. Senzel crashed and burned with the Nats and was DFA’d by Washington midway through the 2024 season. He was then picked up by the Chicago White Sox, but only lasted 10 games for the South Siders before being let go once again.

Senzel’s disappointing track record in Major League Baseball is well-documented. The University of Tennessee product had a stellar college career and was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. But injuries dominated Senzel’s professional career. That, and numerous position changes, likely led to his downfall.

Dodgers offer Reds’ draft bust Nick Senzel a second chance

Senzel had so much promise, but the injuries, which began in the minor leagues, dominated his career. Vertigo took hold of the young infielder as he was making his way up through the Reds farm system, and once Senzel finally put that issue in the rearview mirror, he then suffered a hand injury in 2018.

The Reds made the decision to move Senzel from the infield dirt to the outfield grass shortly before the 2019 season began. Cincinnati chose to add Scott Schebler to the Opening Day roster and optioned Senzel to the minors to begin the year. An ankle injury slowed his progress, but the former first-rounder made his big league debut in May of that year.

Senzel ended his rookie year hitting .256/.315/.427, but a shoulder injury put him on the IL before the season came to a close. Senzel missed half of the 2020 season due to illness, and was shelved for most of 2021 because of a knee injury. Senzel played in a career-high 110 games in 2022, but hit an abysmal .231/.296/.306 with a 66 OPS+. Senzel’s final season in a Reds’ uniform was ripe with controversy, including a disputed minor-league assignment.

But the minor leagues is where Senzel is likely to begin his quest to return to the majors. The Dodgers will almost assuredly deploy him at Triple-A Oklahoma, and if Senzel’s hot-hitting continues, he could break onto the Dodgers’ big league roster.

While Reds fans were understandingly frustrated with the way things ended for Senzel in Cincinnati, a change in scenery could be exactly what he needs to get his major league career back on track.