Matt McLean He looks like a budding star after a campaign in 2023, making his debut for the Reds and slashed an incredible .290/.357/.507 in 89 games, on the way Ranked fifth in the NL rookie of the year that year. However, his up-and-coming show fell, which was impressive due to McLain’s shoulder injury when surgery was required last March. He missed the entire 2024 campaign but seemed ready to re-enter the club’s midfield combination to become Star Shortpop’s starting second baseman Elly de la Cruz 2025.
That was before the Red Army landed Gavin Lux However, in the deal with the Dodgers. Lux played second base games for the vast majority of his major league career and tried some fateful attempts to try him in shortstop. As Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Inquirer pointed out, club president Nick Krall said he hopes Lux wants to put together a mix of their position players.
This is a complex puzzle and the red will need to be sorted out this spring. De La Cruz will certainly be ingrained in shortstops, and Wittenmere notes that Clark opens doors for veterans Jeimer Candelario Even in the 2024 campaign that was injured in 2024, he won the first rift in the third base game this year. If Candelario Spencer Steer or Christian Enkson. If Lux ends up being second base, that would leave McLean without any spot in the infield, but it is worth noting that the youngster played midfielder’s rep during this year’s Arizona Fall League, while C of Athletics . Trent Rosencras recently suggested that McLean could watch himself in the outfield during spring training.
This complicated infield photo seems likely to have a domino effect on the club’s outfield this year. Jake Fraley,,,,, Austin Haysand TJ Friedl It seems to be three full-time outfielders locked in the Reds roster, but Fraley has long been a volleyball player in Cincinnati, while Hays and Hays and Friedel (Friedl) Both faced difficulties and were injured in the 2024 campaign. This can open the door for the club’s extra infield game to run for delegates on the grass, while McLain stands out on the center field of Friedl, and both Driving and Lux are likely candidates Patrol the corner of the field.
The club turned to pitchers, with pitch options beyond potential to match their potential infield options. Even before the veteran Wade Miley Mark Sheldon of MLB.com points out Hunter Green,,,,, Brady Singer,,,,, Nick Lodolo,,,,, Andrew Yape,,,,, Nick Martinez,,,,, Rhett Lowder,,,,, Graham Ashcraft,,,,, Carson Spiersperhaps even non-established invitees Chase the little Probably a candidate for club rotation. However, the five most likely numbers in the group are Green, the singer, Lodolo, Abbott and Martinez.
It is worth noting that this makes Ashcraft look outside. Right-handed has spent his entire major league career so far, with 60 starts in 60 seasons over the past three seasons. However, due to the 4.91 ERA (92 ERA+) he released at that time, the result had some inadequate thoughts. This includes 5.24 ERA (84 ERA+) in 77 1/3 innings that started last year. As Rosencrans noted in a recent mailbag, it seems unlikely that Ashcraft will make club rotations, and may even be behind Lowder, at this point seventh place on the club rotation depth chart.
This makes Ashcraft a major candidate for the role of the bullpen, and Rosencras notes that if he does not lay off staff for the club’s starting spin, there is an “internal belief” that Ashcraft can be found behind the bullpen if he does not lay off staff for the club’s starting spin. success. Alexis Diaz In 2024, the roller coaster season is in a closer role if he or someone with a more experienced character Taylor Rogers and Emilio Pagan With the struggle in 2025, it’s hard to imagine Ashcraft getting the opportunity to prove itself as a high-leverage releaser.
