Cincinnati Reds: Kyle Farmer is the key to keeping six outfielders

The Cincinnati Reds have several talented outfielders, but a limited number of spots. Kyle Farmer’s versatility may allow the Reds to keep six outfielders.

While fans were eagerly watching their social media feed over the past few months hoping for a blockbuster trade, the front office was perfectly content with Freddy Galvis being the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day shortstop. However, the depth behind Galvis is questionable. Look for Kyle Farmer, not Alex Blandino, to backup Galvis in 2020, thus allowing the Reds to keep six outfielders.

Farmer asserted himself as an indispensable piece of the Reds roster last season. The 29-year-old found his way into a career-high 97 games, playing at least one inning at every single infield position, including catcher. Farmer even pitched 1.1 innings, gave up one hit and no runs.

Now, while I don’t expect Farmer to become the next Michael Lorenzen, I do expect the Georgia native to find his way onto the field early and often during the 2020 season. With the lack of depth across the infield, Farmer will be leaned on heavily.

While a lot of fans see Alex Blandino as the clear-cut favorite to backup to shortstop Freddy Galvis, I think it’s highly likely that Kyle Farmer snags that spot. Given the way the roster is constructed, Farmer may be the primary backup at every infield spot.

Okay, hear me out. This season, with the roster expanding to 26, the Cincinnati Reds have 13 spots to fill with position players. The starting infield is spoken for, as is catcher. I also look for six outfielders to make the squad given the amount of depth the Reds have at the position. That brings the total to 12, and Farmer makes 13.

Outside of Farmer and Blandino, no one on the team has much experience at shortstop. Furthermore, to say Farmer has experience at shortstop is a bit of a stretch. He’s played one inning at the position since 2018. That year, Farmer saw eight games, including seven starts, at shortstop for Triple-A Oklahoma.

Farmer played baseball for the University of Georgia in 2013. He was the Bulldogs starting shortstop, and according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Farmer holds the school record for highest fielding percentage by a shortstop at .968 in 1,045 total chances.

According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Cincinnati Reds skipper David Bell plans to have Farmer get a lot of work at shortstop this spring. That alone should gives some insight as to how the team may be constructed. Here’s what Bell had to say on the subject via Reds.com:

“I think people underestimate how he plays that position. I would have no hesitation having Kyle play an extended period of time at short. You’re right, though, we don’t have the depth at that position as we do at pretty much every other position. It’s a consideration.”

Farmer found a home behind the dish for a stretch last season as well. However, considering Curt Casali and Tucker Barnhart will be the catching tandem behind the plate, Farmer shouldn’t be needed to fill in as a backstop unless it’s an emergency.

Having a versatile utility player like Kyle Farmer would enable the Reds to keep six outfielders on the roster. With Farmer, Casali and Barnhart joining the starting infield of Galvis, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suárez and Mike Moustakas, the Reds overcrowded outfield could work.

Obviously Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos will have a spot on the roster, as will Jesse Winker. Nick Senzel and Josh VanMeter possess the positional versatility to take over on the infield dirt in a pinch, leaving room for Phillip Ervin to find a spot on the 26-man roster as well.

Could the prospects of keeping six outfielders hinge on Kyle Farmer’s ability to play shortstop? That appears to be the case. If Farmer is unable to field the position, the Reds will likely look to Blandino, which would require one of the outfielders to be dealt, released or optioned to Triple-A.