Cincinnati Reds spring training: Five most intriguing players to watch

As the team’s facility in Goodyear opens, Cincinnati Reds spring training is in full swing and there are bound to be storylines galore emerging from the Arizona complex. With a great deal of turnover this winter, who are the five most intriguing Reds players to keep an eye on this spring?

Gone are Trevor Bauer, Raisel Iglesias, Curt Casali, and Freddy Galvis. The Reds bullpen looks solid, but there are certainly some questions. Cincinnati’s starting lineup hasn’t changed much and is coming off a season in which the team hit a league-worst .212 over the 60-game season. Who will step up this spring and force Reds Country to pay attention?

Kyle Farmer, Reds shortstop

The most intriguing player in all of camp has to be Kyle Farmer. Originally part of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Farmer is the only player remaining from the 2018 trade that brought Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Queen City. In exchange, Cincinnati dealt Homer Bailey’s massive deal to LA, but also surrendered prospects Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs.

The trade now looks quite lopsided, as Puig and Kemp are no longer with the Reds, though the Wild Horse did help Cincinnati’s front office secure a deal for Trevor Bauer. But, Gray looks to be in line for a possible spot in the Dodgers’ rotation this season and Downs is now one of the top prospects for the Boston Red Sox after he was acquired in the deal for Mookie Betts last spring.

While much has been made of the Reds’ inability to land a quality starting shortstop on the free agent market this offseason, I’m 100% behind the move to start Kyle Farmer up the middle of the infield. Yes, he’s inexperienced and not the best offensive weapon, but the rest of Cincinnati’s lineup should offset Farmer’s deficiencies at the dish.

Farmer’s glove will play all day, and the 30-year-old has put in the work this offseason, losing 10 pounds and coming into Goodyear at his college weight. Farmer destroyed left-handed pitching last season and is a great way to bridge the gap to the team’s future shortstop José García.

Kyle Farmer has his detractors, and a rough go during Reds spring training may dictate that Nick Krall and the front office make a move. Amed Rosario and Willy Adames are said to be available, but it’ll cost the Reds some prospects. Other players are sure to get a shot at shortstop, but it’s Farmer’s job to lose.