Cincinnati Reds: Josh VanMeter’s injury is an opportunity for these players

Unfortunately, Josh VanMeter is likely to miss some time with a leg injury. The door is now open for these three Reds players to make the roster.

The Cincinnati Reds received some bad news this past weekend. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Josh VanMeter will miss at least the next three to four days because of pain in the anterior muscle near the shin on his left leg. While this is definitely a blow to VanMeter’s chances of making the roster, it opens the door for several players to snag the open spot.

With just over two weeks remaining until Opening Day, the Reds roster is becoming clearer every day. The recent announcement of Eugenio Suárez’s impending return to the lineup is great news for the Reds, but it’s also a blow to those players who are on the bubble of making the 26-man roster.

While it’s never good to see a player out of the lineup due to injury, the depth that the Cincinnati Reds have this spring will serve them well if certain players are unable to go. VanMeter had been having a great spring, hitting .400/.526/.667 through seven games. There’s still a chance that last year’s rookie returns before the end of camp, but the Reds are likely to be very cautious.

So, if Josh VanMeter can’t go, that obviously begs the question of who will take his spot on the Opening Day roster. While it certainly was not a guarantee that the 24-year-old was going to break camp with the team, his impressive start in Cactus League play surely helped his case. So, who’s next in line should VanMeter begin the season on the injured list?