When spring camp began in Goodyear, Arizona one year ago, there were precious fewknowns' around the Cincinnati Reds McLain and Will Benson had been bonkers good for the club the prior De La Cruz flashed ability, but struggled mightily more often than Friedl had posted a 4 WAR season and looked like one of the better CF options in all of Fraley and Stu Fairchild formed a potent 20 dinger platoon, Spencer Steer looked like a bona fide offensive star, and the power potential of Christian Encarnacion-Strand had 40 homer predictions looming for the heir apparent at Marte, in many circles, was about to win the National League Rookie of the , like clockwork, the Baseball Gods made sure literally zero of those things replicated themselves in 2024. Such, unfortunately, is often the case when the body of work put forth by a young, inexperienced team still falls firmly on the small size of ishope' among the Reds brass that many of the bads from last year rebound. Their offseason strategy of not addressing any of the offensive issues that failed the team last year echoes that in spades. Which players can immediately eschew their 2024 foibles - and which ones will get the first chance to - still remains to be seen, with a versatile bunch that's doubled up in depth in places all competing for spots on the Opening Day 've already looked closer at the bullpen and the starting rotation options in camp, though that information immediately became dated as injuries and soreness popped 's a closer look at the options manager Terry Francona has on his obvious incumbentsElly De La Cruz picked up down-ballot MVP votes last year in a brilliant, emergent campaign as the next face of the Reds. He'll be the team's primary SS and, if all is right with the world, sock over 30 homers and swipe over 60 bags while seeing his defense and pitch recognition gradually improve. He, quite simply, is a Stephenson should have a contract extension by now. He'd probably love to ink one at this moment, as he's fresh off the best season of his big league career, one where he socked 19 homers, stayed healthy enough to pick up 515 PA, and posted an excellent 112 OPS+. He'll catch plenty, but it wouldn't be a terrible idea to get him some DH1B reps to keep his bat in the immovable objectJeimer Candelario saw his walk rate plummet to career lows, watched as his defense fell completely off the cliff at 3B, turned 31, and ranked in the 13th percentile or worse in each of xwOBA, xBA, Average Exit Velocity, Bat Speed, Chase %, and Range. The areas where he ranked better than 13th percentile weren't much better, either. He's owed $16 million for 2025 and at least $16 million for 2026, so he's not going anywhere - the Reds best hopes now are a) it was a foot injury sapping everything last year and b) he plays well, plays often, and either resuscitates his Reds career well enough to lead a young team to the promised lan or resuscitates it enough to be a feasible trade option at the deadline to free up some cash Jake Rogers Jersey. He, like so many others, should probably be in the 1BDH only mix, but obviously not everyone can just do that.. so he'll likely get 3B reps until he shows he can' prodigal sonsMatt McLain was shelved in late 2023 with an oblique injury, said oblique injury persisted into the winter, and he tweaked a shoulder in spring camp last year that required surgery and ended his year before it ever began. That all came after a slight swing change resulted in more power in 2023 than we'd ever seen from him. Was the swing change causing those issues? Will it be the same in 2025, or will he revert back to his old swing to stay healthy? What we do know is that he'll be the 2B everyday while the Reds find out, and the hope is he can rediscover the budding stardom he found in 2023 Encarnacion-Strand socked 13 homers in just 63 games at the big league level at the end of 2023, and that came after he swatted 20 in just 67 games for AAA Louisville. Big power is his calling card, but no power and a busted wrist became the signature of his lost 2024. He is in camp and bordering on Best Shape of His Life territory, but will likely be only in the mix for 1BDH duties. Complicating things a bit is that he's a RHH who actually hits RHP better than LHP historically, so a sipmlyplatoon' to work him back into things doesn't sound like the best idea. Will he show enough in camp to suggest he'sback,' or will he begin at AAA again as he builds back up his timing?TJ FriedlTJ Friedl is perhaps the least replaceable position player on the Reds roster. He's no Elly, obviously, but the Reds do have other SS capable guys around. What the Reds do not have anywhere is a CF who has 4 WAR upside because of a great combo of speed, defense, plate patience, and enough pop. Somehow, though, Friedl has entered the year he'll turn 30 already, and his hamstrings sapped all manner of production from him last year. If he can be the guy he was before, he's an absolutely vital asset both in CF and in the leadoff spot Tarik Skubal Jersey.
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