When the Cincinnati Reds placed All-Star outfielder Jesse Winker (intercostal strain) on the injured list on Monday, the team wanted to replace him on the roster with the best player they could.
So even though he isn’t expected to be in the lineup every day, the Reds promoted their top position player prospect, shortstop Jose Barrero.
Barrero, who started for the Reds down the stretch last season, was hitting .303 in the Minors this year with a .910 OPS.
“We’ll find a way to get him enough playing time to keep him sharp and keep him going,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Right now where we are, we want to have the best team we possibly can here, and it’s great to have Jose here.”
Unlike most of their other recent top prospects, including Barrero last season, Barrero was called up to come off the bench.
Last season, Barrero immediately became the Reds starting shortstop when he reached the big leagues in the middle of the 2020 season. Nick Senzel immediately became the Reds starting center fielder when he was called up in 2019. In 2017, Winker started most games his rookie season.
But with Barrero in 2021, Bell sees an opportunity to find him playing time without disrupting the starting lineup.
“This team has played well and the players on this team have played well to be in the position we’re in,” Bell said. “No one has looked to disrupt anything, we’re always looking to get better and have the best team on the field.”
Adding Barrero also provides depth at shortstop, where starter Kyle Farmer is playing through a sports hernia injury.
The Reds promoted Barrero over Senzel, who had been the team’s starting center fielder since 2019 when he was healthy.
Senzel is coming off knee surgery in May. While Senzel’s rehab assignment ended on Sunday, Bell said Senzel is still working back to fill strength.
“I know Nick extremely well, the player he is and talent and prospect and somebody that’s helped us and can be a big part of our team,” Bell said. “He at this point, my interpretation is he just needs more time from a baseball standpoint to come back and hit the ground running here at the Major League level.”
OUTFIELD ROTATION: Bell said he’s hopeful Winker could be back in 10 days. Until he returns, the Reds have four outfielders on the active roster.
Nick Castellanos will continue to play every day in right field, and Shogo Akiyama, Tyler Naquin and Aristides Aquino will rotate at the other outfield spots.
“Just going to continue to make it work by the day,” Bell said. “A lot will depend on who we’re facing, who the opposing starter is. They’re all playing well right now, Naquin, Shogo, Aquino has done a nice job. All three of those guys are in a position where they can help us."
FOUR-MAN BENCH: With the Reds in the middle of a 20-day stretch with 20 games, the team is keeping nine pitchers in the bullpen.
With a four-man bench as a result, there's Barrero, catcher Tyler Stephenson, a backup outfielder and whoever isn't starting between Eugenio Suárez and Mike Moustakas.
“We’ve had four bench players for a long time,” Bell said. “I know it’s important to everyone who’s starting, but some of these at-bats the guys coming off the bench are getting or coming into the game, staying in the game, it’s late in the game and they make a big difference.”
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