Cincinnati Reds: Four players who should be promoted to the active roster

The Reds need some reinforcements from the team’s alternate site.

The Cincinnati Reds are squandering a golden opportunity in 2020. Though the circumstances surrounding this season are not ideal, two of the Reds five starters will enter free agency this winter and Nick Castellanos can opt out of his 2021 contract. The Reds front office needs to light a fire under the players and these four, currently at the alternate site, could provide the necessary spark.

The current road trip could make or break this season. Nick Senzel is on the injured list and Cincinnati is coming off a four-day interruption in the schedule due to concerns over COVID-19, but this year’s team is better than their 10-13 record. Currently, the Reds are out of the playoff picture, and that’s unacceptable in a season that will see eight teams from the NL go to the postseason.

This year’s roster is unique, in that each team has 28 players on the active roster. Looking over the crop that Cincinnati has chosen, there’s room for improvement. Travis Jankowski? C’mon, the utility outfielder is little more than a pinch runner late in games. Josh VanMeter, I love ya, but last year’s rookie is not getting consistent at-bats and is hitting .063.

It’s time to shake things up. But who should the Reds turn to? Thankfully, this season, each team has a 60-man player pool to select from. We’ve already seen Cincinnati dip into their crop of players at Prasco Park, but maybe it’s time to go back to the well. Yesterday, we looked at who should be sent to Prasco Park. Today let’s look at which four players from the alternate site should join the active roster?

1. Nick Williams is the Reds newest acquisition.

Who is Nick Williams? Well, maybe it’s time for Reds Country to find out. Cincinnati claimed Williams off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies late last week and the former second-round pick has been at Prasco Park since joining the team.

The 26-year-old Williams was once one of the top prospects in the Phillies organization. Selected with the 93rd pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, the former Texas high school star was part of the blockbuster trade in July of 2015 that sent Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to the Lone Star State.

Williams made his major league debut in 2017, and much like Reds prospects Tyler Stephenson, his first hit was a round-tripper. The hit tool has always been there, and Williams possesses average power from the left side. The concern with Williams has oftentimes been his defense. In three big league seasons, Williams has amassed -28 defensive runs saved (DRS).

Now, the one disadvantage that the Reds would face should they call up Nick Williams, is that they’ll use his last remaining minor-league option. That seems a bit risky when there are other outfielders currently at Prasco Park who could offer a similar profile to Williams. While a lot of fans would like to see what Williams can bring to the table, it may behoove the team to be patient.

2. The Reds need to bring up their top hitting prospect.

It’s time. In fact, we’re well past time. The Cincinnati Reds need to call up Tyler Stephenson and keep him there. The rookie backstop made one appearance during his abbreviated stay earlier this season while Mike Moustakas was on the injured list. All Stephenson did was crank a ball over the wall in his first at-bat, slap a single to left field in his second trip to the plate and draw a walk.

This kid is ready for The Show. He’s been ready since spring training, and after already using one of his minor-league options, it’s time to let him earn his stripes at the big league level. Now, I’m not advocating for Stephenson to be the primary catcher, as I think that’s not a smart move. But, perhaps, Stephenson could take on the role of designated hitter.

Think about it. Stephenson would be in and around the clubhouse with Tucker Barnhart, Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer, learning everything he’ll ever need to know about donning the tools of ignorance. At the same time, Stephenson can put his best tool to work, his bat.

Tyler Stephenson is a hit-first catcher. He shined last season for Double-A Chattanooga and really showed off during the Arizona Fall League. Furthermore, Stephenson was one of the best bats in Goodyear before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown spring training. He’s got to be a better option at DH than Josh VanMeter, right?

4. It’s very surprising we haven’t seen Reds infielder Alex Blandino this season.

I was honestly quite surprised when Christian Colón made the Opening Day roster and Alex Blandino was reassigned to the Cincinnati Reds alternate site in Mason, Ohio. Sure, everyone raves about Colón’s presence in the clubhouse, but including him on the Opening Day roster over Blandino seems like a slap in the face to the former first-round pick.

Now, that’s not to say that Blandino set the world on fire during his early years in the bigs, but what we saw during spring training at Goodyear certainly was eye-opening. Blandino hit .423/.500/.731 with five extra-base hits and seven RBIs. That’s nothing to sneeze at from a middle infielder who typically offers more glove than bat.

For his career, Blandino’s .654 OPS doesn’t really scare anyone. However, Colón’s .622 OPS isn’t any better. With Colón no longer on the Reds 40-man roster, it would appear that the next time Cincinnati wants to dip into the player pool to snag an infielder, Blandino might get the call.

Kyle Farmer has filled in admirably at shortstop and second base when called upon, and in no way should Alex Blandino supplant him on the active roster. However, Blandino is a better defender than Josh VanMeter, and with the way last year’s rookie is swinging the bat, I’d argue that Blandino would be the better option in the batter’s box as well.

I didn’t include any pitchers in this list. I know, I surprised myself a little with that one. However, the Cincinnati Reds seem to have a bigger problem scoring runs than they do preventing them. Also, it sounds as though Pedro Strop and Robert Stephenson will be back soon enough. That alone should help the struggling bullpen.