Cincinnati Reds: Three possible replacements for the injured Freddy Galvis

1. Kyle Farmer

As far as in-house options go, Kyle Farmer is the most likely player to get the call on Opening Day should Freddy Galvis be unable to take the field. Farmer, who’s never played shortstop at the majors league level, has seen three starts at the position so far this spring, racking up 14 innings of work, recording one error in nine chances.

Is Farmer an elite defender? No, but he can hold his own. Last year, Cincinnati dispersed Farmer at nearly every infield position, including catcher, but the 29-year-old never found time at shortstop. That could change drastically in 2020.

Is Farmer an elite hitter? Eh, the answer to that is the same as above. While Farmer is unlikely to hit better than .250, the right-handed hitting utility player slugged .410 last season, proving that he has the capability to send the ball out of the yard.

If Kyle Farmer is the Reds Opening Day starter on March 26th, he’s likely to be hitting way down in the lineup. Having Farmer’s bat in the No. 8 hole is not the worst problem to have, as Galvis himself has a career on-base percentage of just .296.

The biggest question mark should Farmer get the call on Opening Day would be on defense. Though he played shortstop in college, doing so at the major league level is an entirely different animal. Though, with the emphasis on defensive shifts being so prevalent nowadays, perhaps his lack of experience wouldn’t be such a hindrance.