The Cincinnati Reds may have given themselves a fallback option in the 2026 MLB Draft.
After taking shortstop Dylan Bowen with their fifth-round pick, the Reds added another intriguing name late in the process: Moeller High School graduate Matt Ponatoski, who went to Cincinnati at No. 542 overall in the 18th round.
That selection looks especially notable because Ponatoski is committed to play both baseball and football at the University of Kentucky. Bowen and Ponatoski both have college options, and the odds of the Reds signing both players appear slim. But if Cincinnati can’t get a deal done with Bowen, Ponatoski suddenly becomes the kind of hometown target the club could chase hard with whatever bonus-pool money is left.
Each team gets a set bonus pool to work with, and the money saved on certain picks can be used to help lure later-round players away from college commitments. The Reds have just under $11 million to spend, and Bowen could require an over-slot deal. His pick at No. 154 carries a slot value of $463,200.
Cincinnati may have created some room to maneuver by selecting Tyner Horn in Round 3, Duncan Marsten in Round 6 and Damian Ruiz in Round 9. If those picks come in under slot, the Reds could use the savings to push Bowen over slot and still have a path to Ponatoski if needed.
For now, the expectation is that Bowen has a strong enough commitment that Cincinnati would not have used that fifth-round pick without some confidence. Still, if the Reds and Bowen can’t agree to terms, the club could turn around and make a serious run at Ponatoski, who is set to join new UK football coach Will Stein and enter the Wildcats’ quarterback room next season. He’s also expected to join baseball coach Nick Mingione and be part of Kentucky’s pitching staff next spring.
The MLB signing deadline is July 27, and the Reds will know the outcome for all 21 of their draftees within the next couple of weeks.
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