GOODYEAR, Arizona – Over the last few days of spring training, as the rest of the National League Central finalizes their Opening Day rosters and their starting lineups, the Cincinnati Reds are still waiting on a few answers.
One starter is getting back to full strength after having COVID-19, another picked up a minor injury late in camp and final roster spots are still being determined.
But the answer to the long-debated question of the Opening Day shortstop looks like it will be Eugenio Suárez.
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“It’s looking like he’s going to end up being the everyday shortstop,” general manager Nick Krall said. “He has played well, he has moved really well at short. He’s made all the plays in the field. He’s done everything you need him to do.”
While Suárez will factor into the middle of the lineup, the Reds can’t get too far ahead in planning out the rest.
Center fielder Nick Senzel was pulled from Thursday's game against the Chicago White Sox, and he hasn’t played since due to a mild left groin strain. It’s the first time Senzel has missed two consecutive games this spring, and Krall said Senzel is day-to-day.
With Senzel’s status in flux, outfielder Aristides Aquino was in the starting lineup with the other seven regulars on Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs. Aquino is making his first appearance in center field this spring, but he’s still competing for an outfield spot on the 26-man roster with Tyler Naquin and Mark Payton.
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“He has made some strides and he’s got to keep working and keep growing,” Krall said. “He has been a guy that has hit left-handed pitching his whole career and he’s got big power. If he’s on the bench he can get you on the board in a hurry. We know where he is, keep working on the little things in his game.”
There’s a similar state of uncertainty at first base as Joey Votto gets back to full strength. Votto made his return playing a half-game at first base on Friday, and he was in the starting lineup against the Cubs on Saturday.
Votto remains questionable for Opening Day, but the Reds re-assigned one potential replacement, left-handed-hitting first baseman Nicky Delmonico, to minor league camp on Saturday. If Votto isn’t available on Opening Day, Kyle Farmer or Alex Blandino would likely play first base.
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“Obviously, (Votto’s) one where we’ll see what happens,” Krall said. “He played (Friday) which was great to see. I don’t want to speak for him, but he felt great from what we saw. Haven’t seen him today, but that’s just day-to-day and trying to ramp that one up as we go.”
Krall also didn’t name an Opening Day second baseman on Saturday. Jonathan India has started most frequently over the last week at second base with the Major League regulars, and he’s hitting .333 this spring in 48 at-bats.
“He’s still looking to fight for a spot on the club,” Krall said. “But we’re getting closer.”
India’s chances to make the Opening Day roster have improved as the infield depth has been tested. The Reds cut infielder Dee Strange-Gordon, and infielder Max Schrock is day-to-day with a left-hamstring injury, his second injury of the spring.
In addition to Blandino and Farmer, Mike Freeman and Kyle Holder remain as infielders in camp.
The rest of the Opening Day lineup appears to be set: third baseman Mike Moustakas, left fielder Jesse Winker, right fielder Nick Castellanos and catcher Tucker Barnhart.
‘You’re always concerned with injuries,” Krall said. “We’ve had some injuries. I know other clubs have had some injuries. I feel good about the guys we have that are backing different guys up. I think that’s something where you’re just making sure you have enough depth in camp to cover the long or short term.”
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