Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams hinted a week prior to the Major League Baseball Draft that the Reds might be flirting with the idea of possibly drafting a local product who came up through the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy.
Williams kept his word Wednesday when the Reds drafted Sycamore High School center fielder R.J. Barnes in the 34th round (1,007th player overall).
Barnes, who will have a decision to make, signed a letter of intent with Morehouse College on June 7 at Great American Ball Park in the Reds' inaugural signing day ceremony for its youth academy.