Cincinnati Reds should leave Nick Senzel at third base

The Cincinnati Reds are letting top prospect Nick Senzel try different positions this spring.

With Nick Senzel preparing for his MLB debut, the Cincinnati Reds are letting him play multiple positions this spring because of the presence of Eugenio Suarez.  Suarez finally appeared at home at third base in 2017 after looking uncomfortable at shortstop.  His defense at third went from awful to excellent.

Now Senzel is ready to debut, but he has only played third base in the minors.  He was a shortstop in high school, but didn’t play there in college.  At the University of Tennessee Senzel played second base and third base.

Shortly after the Reds drafted Senzel they traded Jay Bruce for Dilson Herrera.  Herrera is a second base man that can play third.  They also have waiver wire surprise Scooter Gennett at second.

Gennett may only be around for 2018.  He can play second, third and the corner outfield.  As good as his 2017 season was, his salary may push him out of Cincinnati next off-season.

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Jose Peraza is in the mix at shortstop.  No one seems sold on him as a long term solution.  However, Senzel hasn’t played short since high school and didn’t play well enough defensively for UT to give him a chance.

With the infield loaded either Nick Senzel or someone else needs to move for the Cincinnati Reds.

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The outfield is talented and young.  Adam Duvall, Jesse Winker, and Scott Schebler are all looking for playing time.  With Billy Hamilton on the team and Phil Ervin hanging around, there isn’t really any space in the outfield.

That makes having Senzel play third, and worrying about everyone else later, the most sense. Suarez could end up at first or in the outfield long term.  He could also move to another team.

Senzel is the future of the team and making him comfortable should be a focus.  He is a third baseman at heart.  

He is also an OBP machine that looks like an explosive offensive force.

Allowing Senzel some exposure at second base in spring training does make sense, though.  It is possible that based on his arm Senzel will end up at second.  That could require Herrera moving to his second best position.

Next: Reds add another minor league free agent

The Reds drafted Senzel for his offense.  As a National League team, the Reds need a position for him to play.  There is no valid reason for him to start from scratch.