Slugging outfielder and leadoff hitter Mason Neville had to wait, but in the end he wound up right where he belonged, chosen for the second time by the Cincinnati Reds.
When Neville was coming out of high school in 2022, the Queen City club picked him in the 18th round, 543rd overall, but he decided to go to the University of Arkansas instead.
From Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada, Neville transferred to Oregon in 2024 and over two seasons he blossomed as a No. 35 prospect. He led the NCAA in home runs this season with 26, coupled with a .429 on-base percentage and 57 RBI in 57 games.
The Reds got a bargain, twice.
The #Reds pick outfielder Mason Neville with their 4th round pick out of Oregon.
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) July 14, 2025
Neville was ranked as the #35 overall prospect by MLB entering the draft! He is one of the best power bats in the draft. Neville lead NCAA this season with 26 HR in just 57 games at Oregon. pic.twitter.com/msJQi5Kp3i
Neville credits a shift in his approach for his steady development as a hitter, beginning with batting practice. He told the baseball podcast "On the Clock," “I’ve stayed focused on hitting low line drives instead of trying to launch balls out. It’s helped groove my swing for games and freed me up mentally at the plate.”
The move to Eugene was pivotal in his development, he said, particularly the opportunity to start in centerfield and lead off. Asked what advice he'd give other players mulling a transfer, he said, “First and foremost, you’ve got to go play. You need to figure out a place you can develop and trust the coaches. All the other stuff is noise.”
Mason Neville is selected in the fourth round by the Reds after two power-fueled seasons for Oregon.
— Mojo Hill (@mojohill22) July 14, 2025
He easily has some of the best raw power in the draft. His potential is sky high.
He'll only need to continue refining his approach in pro ball.pic.twitter.com/jnqotTFm7g
He'll start this summer in short-season A ball. A fourth-round pick has a slot value of $667,000. To make it to the big leagues, Neville will have to improve in his ability to hit breaking balls and learn to lay off pitches outside the strike zone-- he struck out 66 times in 2025 with the Ducks.
Scouts say he absolutely demolishes fastballs, and he's a hard worker with good speed, athletic at 6-3, 210.