Reds' Senzel out for rest of season

A once promising season for Nick Senzel is coming to a premature end. 
The top-ranked Reds prospect will undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a torn tendon in his right index finger that he suffered in Friday night's game with Triple-A Louisville, the parent club announced Saturday morning. 

Penciled in as the second baseman Friday, Senzel recorded a putout in the top of the first inning, fielding a ground ball before throwing out Norfolk's Garabez Rosa at first. Before his turn came up at the top of the order in the bottom half, the 22-year-old was removed from the game after suffering an apparent injury to his throwing hand. He was replaced by Hernan Iribarren. 
"I don't think it was a bad hop," Reds manager Jim Riggleman told MLB.com. "I think he did it throwing."
MLB.com's No. 6 overall prospect already missed more than three weeks of action in May when he dealt with the lingering effects of vertigo. Even with the time on the disabled list, Senzel was putting together a strong campaign in the International League, hitting .310/.378/.509 with six homers and 25 RBIs. On Thursday, Senzel went deep twice in his first multi-homer game of 2018 and third of his professional career.
Since moving into the leadoff spot on June 9, the University of Tennessee product was batting .440 (22-for-50) with three homers, five doubles, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 12 games. 

"The news this morning was very unfortunate, but I was prepared mentally on how to handle it, whether good or bad," Senzel tweeted Saturday. "I had a goal this season, and it was to make the big leagues and help the Cincinnati Reds win ballgames. Although I did not fulfill this goal, it will not stop my drive to continue to fulfill my dream."
Selected second overall in the 2016 Draft, Senzel has a .314/.390/.513 slash line with 27 homers and 130 RBIs in 231 games. Riggleman said there was a chance Senzel could have gotten a promotion to the Majors by the time the season was over, although the injury rendered that speculation moot. 
"Just hearing about his progress, you got a sense that he might be here before September and certainly in all liklihood in September, at least," the skipper said. "I am not sure where that stands now."