Cincinnati Reds: Make-or-break season for these five players in 2020

Last year, was a make-or-break season for Robert Stephenson. Which five players on this year’s Cincinnati Reds roster face a similar situation?

Every year, there are a handful of players who enter spring training looking for one last chance to show that they’re capable of being a productive major league player. Last year, Robert Stephenson finally proved he could get the job done. Which five players on the Cincinnati Reds roster enter a make-or-break season in 2020?

Entering spring camp last season, Stephenson had a career-ERA of 5.47 and a WHIP of 1.673. The right-hander was a former first-round pick of the Reds back in 2011, and though Cincinnati had spent a high draft pick on Stephenson, it appeared as though his time in the organization was quickly coming to an end.

Stephenson was coming off a season that he’d just as soon forget. He’d 0-2 in 4 games with a 9.26 ERA and more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). But Stephenson proved all the doubters wrong and latched on with the club out of spring training. Stephenson went on to have the best season of his career, owning a 3.76 ERA and drastically reducing his walk-rate.

Last year was a make-or-break season for Stephenson. It was imperative that he showed the Reds front office and coaching staff that he had what it takes to be a big league pitcher. Stephenson will be heavily relied upon this season out of the Reds bullpen. Which five players entering the 2020 season have the chance to make-or-break their standing with the Reds?

2. Jesse Winker, Outfielder

The 2020 season is an important one for Jesse Winker. The former first-round pick has struggled to stay healthy and faces an uphill climb to break through as an everyday player. The Cincinnati Reds added Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos to the outfield mix. Phillip Ervin and Aristides Aquino will be looking to find a spot on the roster as well. Winker is in for a battle in camp.

If there was player who I was betting on to be the surprise of the 2020 season, it’d be Jesse Winker. For all the flack that Winker has caught over the past two years, he’s actually got some legitimate statistics that speak to his high ceiling. Winker’s problem hasn’t been production, it’s been availability.

In 2018, Winker was unexplainably benched in favor of an outfield of Billy Hamilton, Scott Schebler and Adam Duvall. Eventually Winker broke through and proved that decision to be a terrible one. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ended Winker’s season and he played only 89 games. Last season, Winker played just 113 games after ending the season on the injured list.

If you’re looking for a player with power from the left-side with the ability to get on base, then Jesse Winker is your guy. He’s the type of player that every GM, especially in the American League, would be drooling over. Winker’s lack of speed and subpar defense are obstacles for him, but ones that a big year at the dish would overshadow. Look for Winker to breakout in 2020.

3. Tucker Barnhart, Catcher

Last winter, the Reds were chasing J.T. Realmuto. Cincinnati was heavily involved in talks with catcher Yasmani Grandal this offseason. All of that noise should be a kick in the pants to Tucker Barnhart. If Barnhart hopes to keep his spot on lockdown, a breakout season at the plate may be in order, especially with Tyler Stephenson rapidly ascending through the farm system.

Barnhart is signed through the 2021 season and has a team-option for 2022, so, barring a trade, Tucker is going nowhere for the next two seasons. However, his role with the club could be a lot different this coming year and even more so in 2021. Barnhart has changed his approach at the plate, going from switch-hitter to exclusively hitting from the left-side.

The change couldn’t come at a better time for the Reds backstop. Last season, David Bell decided to more evenly distribute the catching duties between Barnhart and Curt Casali. I’d look for more of the same this coming season, with Tucker more likely to see time in the lineup when a right-handed pitcher is on the bump and Casali suiting up when a lefty takes the ball.

Stephenson, Cincinnati’s top catching prospect, is likely to make his season debut at Triple-A Louisville. If Stephenson has similar success with the Bats that he had in 2019 with the Chattanooga Lookouts, then the 23-year-old could make his big league debut this season. Barnhart’s production at the plate will make-or-break his long-term future with the Reds.

4. Phillip Ervin, Outfielder

I hate putting Phillip Ervin on this list, because the 27-year-old had a nice season in 2019, putting together a .271/.331/.466 slash line. But, with the depth in the outfield, Ervin is going to have to find a way to stand out. Last season, Ervin took advantage of left-handed pitchers. Perhaps that’ll be his niche with the 2020 version of the Cincinnati Reds.

Nick Castellanos is likely to draw the everyday start in one of the two corner outfield spots. That’ll leave a lot of competition for the opposite corner. Ervin, Jesse Winker, Shogo Akiyama and Aristides Aquino will all be looking to earn time playing in the Reds outfield. One thing that sets Ervin apart from the others, with the exception of Akiyama, is his ability to play all three spots.

Last spring, Ervin produced possibly the best offensive statistics on the team and still couldn’t make it out of Goodyear. This year could be more of the same for Ervin, however, the Reds don’t have the luxury of optioning the right-handed hitter down to Triple-A, as he’s now out of minor-league options.

If Phillip Ervin survives the competition in spring camp, he’ll still have an uphill climb to snag enough meaningful time in order to impress the coaching staff. Ervin has been a player who’s had to fight and claw his way up through the minor leagues in order to find adequate playing time in the bigs, and 2020 will likely be more of the same. Ervin has a very little margin for error.

5. Alex Blandino, Infielder

It may be a bit premature to call 2020 a make-or-break season for Alex Blandino. After all, he’s got two minor-league options remaining. However, given the infield depth and likely ascension of shortstop Jose Garcia, Blandino may be running out of time to make an impact on the Cincinnati Reds coaching staff.

This spring will be very telling for Blandino. Given that he’s the only player on the 40-man roster, aside from Freddy Galvis, with any experience at shortstop, Blandino’s chances of making the Opening Day roster are fairly high. His ability to play second and third base combined with Eugenio Suárez’s potential absence also lend themselves to a possible spot on the team.

Whether Blandino breaks camp with the Cincinnati Reds or not is irrelevant. With two minor-league options remaining, it may be very likely that Blandino begins the 2020 season at Triple-A Louisville. However, he’s unlikely to stay there and may want to become very familiar with the 90-plus mile drive up and down I-71.

Alex Blandino should not be dismissed, but his spot on this year’s team is precarious. Josh VanMeter and Kyle Farmer will be looking to fill a similar role and there’s always the possibility that Nick Senzel returns to the infield dirt. Blandino will need to make the most of the opportunities he’s given, be it in the minors or in the bigs.

The Reds additions of four free agents who are likely to see a lot of playing time might turn up the heat on several players within the organization that played a prominent role with the club over the past few years. A healthy competition this spring will help fans see which players rise to top and who may be left behind.