Cincinnati Reds: Who will be demoted when Nick Senzel makes his debut?

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GOODYEAR, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Nick Senzel #79 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex on February 20, 2018 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) /

When the Cincinnati Reds decide to give Nick Senzel his opportunity, the team must make room on the 40-man roster. Who is most likely to be sent down when Senzel is called up?

With the service time issue behind us, the Cincinnati Reds have no more excuses to keep Nick Senzel, the team’s top prospect, at Triple-A Louisville for much longer. When the Reds finally decide to give Senzel his opportunity in the big leagues, they’ll have to make room on the roster. Who is most likely to be sent down when Senzel is called up?

The rumors are swirling that Nick Senzel will soon be making his major league debut. Senzel has been working his way back from an ankle injury that he suffered during a spring game in Arizona and has been with Triple-A Louisville since April 23rd.

With Scott Schebler struggling mightily at the plate to begin the 2019 season, making the call to bring Senzel up to The Show should be a fairly easy. The Reds’ top prospect has been learning a new position and rather than play his normal position in the middle infield, the Reds want Senzel to play center field this season.

Despite a terrific Spring Training, Schebler has not been the answer for Cincinnati Reds in center field. The left-handed hitting Schebler is 11-for-74 (.135) with 26 strikeouts on the season. Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin, and even Michael Lorenzen have all seen time center field as well, but none of those players seem to be the long-term solution at the position.

So, when Senzel gets the call, who’s going to get the bad news? The Reds will have to make a corresponding move to bring Senzel up to the majors and since he’s not yet on the 40-man roster, at least one, and possibly two moves will need to be made in order to promote Senzel. Let’s put together a few educated guesses about what the Reds might do.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 15: Scott Schebler #43 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after scoring on a sacrifice fly in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Scott Schebler, Outfielder

It seems too easy, right? Why keep Scott Schebler on the major league roster if the plan is promote his successor to the big leagues? While Schebler still does have minor league options, I’m a little hesitant to just cut bait with the current Reds’ center fielder.

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If the decision was made to send down Scott Schebler so he could figure out what in the world has gone wrong with his swing, I would not object. Since the season began, Schebler has been a shell of the player who we saw win the starting center fielder job in Spring Training.

It’s not the .135 batting average that befuddles me; every player goes through slumps, Scheb’s just happens to be at the beginning of the season. It’s the strikeout to walk ratio that really has me puzzled.

Schebler showed incredible patience during Spring Training, drawing 11 walks while striking out times. Schebler also had a .490 on-base percentage and 2 home runs during Cactus League play. While I still maintain that Nick Senzel should have made the Opening Day roster, Schebler deserved his spot too.

If the decision is made to send Schebler down to Triple-A Louisville to get some more regular at-bats, I’m fine with that. But, I would argue that Schebler would be the perfect player to give Senzel a night off once or twice a week when the pitching matchup is favorable.

Scott Schebler also provides a left-handed bat off the bench and the ability to play all three outfield spots. In my opinion, Schebler is a fourth outfielder, and with Senzel on his way up, Scheb’s could fit that role very nicely and still get two to three starts per week.

PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 21: Phillip Ervin #6 of the Cincinnati Reds cannot make a catch on a foul ball during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on March 21, 2019 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Phillip Ervin, Outfielder

Phillip Ervin got the call several days ago when Matt Kemp hit the injured list with a broken rib. Will he get another call in the coming days that sends him back to Louisville? Maybe, but there are other options on the table.

Speaking of options, Ervin has one remaining, so the Cincinnati Reds will retain his rights if the team decides to send him back to Triple-A. Ervin, like Senzel, is a former first round pick, and a great spring has yet to secure him a solid spot in the Reds’ outfield.

Any other year, Ervin would’ve likely made the 25-man roster out of Spring Training. No one on the Reds’ squad was hitting better during Cactus League games that Phillip Ervin. Unfortunately, with the additions of Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, there just weren’t enough spots on the Opening Day roster.

Ervin got a taste of the 2019 season when he was designated at the 26th player for the Reds’ trip to Monterrey, Mexico earlier this season. Ervin promptly rewarded the Reds’ faith in him with a triple in his first at-bat. Since then, Ervin’s added just one more hit in his limited time at the plate.

I’m a big fan of Phillip Ervin, and just like Scott Schebler, I think he’s best suited as a fourth outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. However, with the outfield being so crowded this season, it’ll be tough for Ervin to get routine at-bats.

Schebler and Ervin are in a similar spot once the Reds make the decision to promote Nick Senzel. If they stay with the team, their playing time will be more limited. Judging by David Bell‘s lineup card since Ervin’s promotion, Schebler has a more favorable standing with his manager.

Ervin gives the Reds a right-handed option to play left field when the pitching matchup doesn’t favor Jesse Winker and Ervin definitely has some pop in his bat. I wouldn’t completely slam the door on Ervin just yet, but a lot depends on if Bell wants to carry five outfielders.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Kyle Farmer #52 of the Cincinnati Reds drives in a run in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 30, 2019 in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.The New York Mets defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Kyle Farmer, Utility player

Moving Kyle Farmer down to Triple-A Louisville is certainly an option, but I don’t think it’s the right one. The Reds’ super-utility player has been a bright spot in the lineup and has too much versatility with the way the team is currently constructed.

Granted, Farmer doesn’t get a lot of opportunities, as he’s only seen action in 18 games and has just 25 at-bats which is fewer than Curt Casali. However, as we saw in Tuesday night’s game against the New York Mets, when Farmer gets his chances, he produces.

Farmer is only 5-for-25 (.200) on the season, but when he gets a hit, it counts. Kyle Farmer has gone yard on 3 different occasions this season and has 8 RBIs. His .560 slugging percentage is better than Derek Dietrich, Eugenio Suárez, and Jesse Winker.

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No, Farmer is not an every day player, but that’s okay. His ability to give Joey Votto a day off at first base and play all over the infield gives David Bell a world of options, especially late in games. Farmer can even take over behind the plate if needed.

If Kyle Farmer were to be sent down, Senzel’s ability to play the infield may come into play. I find it hard to believe, however, that the Reds would spend so much time and energy teaching Senzel how to play center field only to utilize him as an option to fill in at second base. When Senzel arrives in Cincinnati, it’ll be to play center field.

I don’t expect Kyle Farmer to be on the Cincinnati Reds roster much longer, as I think he’s the likely candidate to be sent down when Scooter Gennett returns, but for now I think it’s a safe bet that remains part of the big league club for the next several weeks.

MONTERREY, MEXICO – APRIL 13: Zach Duke, relieve pitcher of the Cincinnati Reds, prepares to pitch on the eight inning of the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey on April 13, 2019 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

Zach Duke, Relief pitcher

If I were in charge of the Cincinnati Reds, this is the move I would make. Zach Duke’s 11.25 ERA is almost 6 points higher than any other pitcher on the Cincinnati Reds staff. Duke was brought in for one reason; to get out left-handed hitters. He hasn’t been very good at his job this season.

I don’t want this to turn into an anti-Zach Duke rant, so I’ll steer my focus in a different direction. If the Reds decide to designate Duke for assignment, it saves them from making a corresponding move with the 40-man roster. Let me explain.

In order for the Reds to add Nick Senzel to the 25-man roster, he must also be added to the 40-man roster. That means somebody has to go. A player from the Reds’ 40-man roster must be traded, designated for assignment, released, or put on the 60-day injured list before Senzel is called up.

Unless Alex Wood‘s injury is worse than we feared, no one on the 40-man roster is likely to be put on the 60-day IL. No mention of a potential trade has been reported, so that option is out the window as well. This means if one of the aforementioned players is optioned to Triple-A Louisville, the Reds must release a player from their 40-man roster.

Taking a look at the Cincinnati Reds’ 40-man roster reveals a few names who may susceptible should the team decide to keep Duke on the roster. Players like Jackson Stephens, Jesus Reyes, or Jose Lopez may be victims of losing their spot if a player like Scott Schebler or Phillip Ervin is optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

If Duke were designated for assignment, no team in their right mind is going to pick him up. Duke has given up 11 hits and has 10 earned runs in just 8 innings of work. He’d likely be outrighted to Triple-A Louisville where he could get himself right in the event the Reds would like to recall him later in the season.

The only snag I see is David Bell’s unwavering desire to keep 13 pitchers on the roster and with how the first-year manager has utilized his bullpen this season, he may need all of them. In Tuesday’s extra-inning loss to the New York Mets, despite Luis Castillo going 6.2 innings, Bell still found a way to use 5 of his 8 relievers, plus Michael Lorenzen as a pinch runner.

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Zach Duke is the player on the Cincinnati Reds’ roster who makes the most to lose his spot in favor of the team’s prospect, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Reds chose to go another direction. We’ll find out soon enough, as it’s rumored that Senzel will make his major league debut on Friday when the Reds play host to the San Francisco Giants.

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