Cincinnati Reds’ Scooter Gennett is forcing the team’s hand

The Cincinnati Reds named Dilson Herrera the second baseman of the future, but Scooter Gennett is fighting that movement.

The Cincinnati Reds traded Jay Bruce to the New York Mets for Dilson Herrera.  Herrera looked like a future power hitting second baseman.  Now Scooter Gennett is trying fill that role.

Gennett came over via waivers at the end of spring training from the Milwaukee Brewers.  He was brought in to back-up at second and third, but has been taking more playing time as a starter.  When Zack Cozart missed time with a quad injury, Gennett started everyday at second base and did admirably.

Gennett was a three year starter for the Milwaukee Brewers at second base the past three years.  He was a .260 batter with a .300 OBP.  Those are decent numbers for someone who ended up on waivers this season.

Gennett has been a merely average MLB second baseman his entire career.  He hasn’t added or subtracted much from his profile defensively.  Playing third base and the corner outfield positions this year has allowed the Reds to get him more playing time.

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Being a left-handed hitter is an added benefit.  He and Arismendy Alcantara are the only two lefties that play second, shortstop or third on the forty man roster.  Alcantara, though, is much more of a risk-reward type of hitter.

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The Cincinnati Reds could consider Gennett as the second base solution for the rest of this season and into the next one.

The Reds don’t have an answer to the starting second base solution beyond Gennett, Alcantara, and Herrera next year.  The next man up is Brandon Dixon, but the Reds are hesitant to add him to the forty man roster.  WIth Zack Cozart likely traded the day after the All-Star Game, Jose Peraza will move to short to stay at that time.

Offensively, the largest holes in the offense have been in the top two spots.  Billy Hamilton has struggled mightily since the end of May and the two hole has been a black hole whenever someone besides Cozart or Gennett has batted there this season.  The Reds could role the dice with Herrera or third baseman Eugenio Suarez there, but should consider Gennett as the solution.

Next: Who will be in the rotation at the end of the season?

Gennett’s batting .302 with an OPS of .921 this season.  He’s on pace to set career highs for runs scored and total bases despite seeing limited playing time early in the season.  That combined with Herrera’s inability to dominate in Triple-A should give Gennett the inside edge at the job entering 2018, if he continues playing at this level during his second half audition.