The news is breaking that the Cincinnati Reds have signed their first round draft pick of the 2012 draft, Nick Travieso.

The Florida high school right-hander, who was ranked No. 32 on MLB.com’s Draft Top 100 prior to the Draft, will sign for $2 million. That is below the assigned value for the pick, $2.375 million.

The news comes from the MLB Pro Blog: Big, Bald, and Beautiful. If the information is as reputable as the blog title’s description of the author, then tomorrow, we can expect an official announcement about Travieso’s signing.

The second day of the draft has less pomp and circumstance than the first, and a lot more picks as well. Still, you must memorize their names so that, in four or five years when one of them busts out, you can say you had a good feeling about them back when they were drafted.

2nd round – Tanner Rahier
Shortstop; bats left; throws left
Age:18 HT:6-2 WT:205
Palm Desert High School (Indian Wells, CA)

3rd round – Daniel Langfield
Right-handed pitcher
Age:21 HT:6-1 WT:210
University of Memphis

4th round – Jonathan Moscot
Right-handed pitcher
Age:20 HT:6-3 WT:205
Pepperdine University

5th round – Mason Felt
Left-handed pitcher
Age:18 HT:6-3 WT:185
Hebron Christian Academy

6th round – Joseph Hudson
Catcher; bats right; throws right
Age:21 HT:6-0 WT:205
University of Notre Dame

7th round – Beau Amaral
Center fielder; bats left; throws left
Age:20 HT:5-10 WT:180
UCLA

8th round – Seth Mejas-Bream
Third baseman; bats right; throws right
Age:21 HT:6-2 WT:210
University of Arizona

9th round – Daniel Pigott
Left fielder; bats right; throws right
Age:22 HT:6-2 WT:180
University of Florida

10th round – Jeremy Kivel
Right-handed pitcher
Age:18 HT:6-2 WT:205
Spring High School (Spring, TX)

11th round – Nolan Becker
Left-handed pitcher
Age:20 HT:6-6 WT:225
Yale University

12th round – Brent Peterson
Shortstop; bats right; throws right
Age:19 HT:6-0 WT:180
Bakersfield Junior College

13th round – Matthew Boyd
Left-handed pitcher
Age:21 HT:6-3 WT:225
Oregon State University

14th round – Luke Moran
Right-handed pitcher
Age:20 HT:6-1 WT:200
Grayson County Junior College

15th round – Bennett Klimesh
Right-handed pitcher
Age:21 HT:6-4 WT:220
Trinity University

Yesterday was the first day of the First-Year Player Draft. The Reds had the 14th, 49th, and 57th picks yesterday. Now they have until 5 p.m. ET on July 13 to sign these guys.

14th – Nick Travieso
Right-handed pitcher
Age: 18 HT: 6’2″ WT: 215 lbs
Archbishop McCarthy High School, Southwest Rances FL
Travieso is a bit of a flamethrower and has topped out at 99 MPH.

49th – Jesse Winker
Corner outfielder; bats left; throws left
Age: 18 HT: 6’3″ WT: 200 lbs
Olympia High School, Orlando FL
.488 AVG, 3 HR, 30 RBI in 30 games, toolsy

57th – Jeff Gelalich
Corner outfielder; bats left; throws right
Age: 27 HT: 6’1″ WT: 205
UCLA
.372 AVG, 11 HR, 46 RBI and .462 OBP in 59 games, base-stealing threat

The draft continues today and Wednesday. The Reds still have the 78th, 109th, and 142nd picks ahead of them.

With the 14th pick in the first round of the First Year Player Draft, the Reds have selected RHP Nick Travieso. Congratulations, kid. Maybe we’ll see you in 3 or 4 years.

John Fay is reporting that 31-year old LHP Jeff Francis has become a free agent and is testing the major league waters to see if anyone will give him a chance. He had an out in his contract that allowed him to elect free agency on June 1.

He’s rocking a 3.72 ERA with AAA Louisville, which is previous years probably would have gotten him a look. That 3-6 record he sports isn’t a shiny, but we all know how that can go for pitchers, plus he’s coming off a really great start against the Tampa Bay Ray’s minor league affiliate.

This isn’t the best team to be trying to bust in to with the way the bullpen has been performing, so looking around might uncover just the opportunity he’s looking for. If not, though, it sounds like he’s got the opportunity to come back to the Reds. There’s bound to be an injury at some point (knock on wood).