Cincinnati Reds: Who plays third base while Eugenio Suárez recovers?

2. Nick Senzel

File this one under not very likely. While Nick Senzel had spent the majority of his college and minor league career playing third base, it sounds the Reds are sticking to their original plan of converting Senzel to an infielder. According to The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans, Reds GM Nick Krall already downplayed the idea of Senzel playing third base to start the season.

I know a lot of Reds fans, myself included, have been pounding the drum for Nick Senzel to return to the infield. However, with the way is the roster is currently constructed, I don’t see that happening. The Reds seem satisfied with Freddy Galvis starting at shortstop on Opening Day, meaning we’ll likely see Senzel back in center field.

That is, of course, if he’s healthy enough to be on the Opening Day roster. Senzel ended his rookie year on the injured list and battled various injuries all season. Senzel had offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, and his availability for the beginning of the 2020 may still be in question.

With Shogo Akiyama now on the roster, the Reds have a talented outfielder who could play center field on a regular basis until Suárez returned, allowing Senzel to make his way back to the outfield grass. I never say never, but it seems highly unlikely that Senzel will play third base to start the 2020 season.