Cincinnati Reds: Alex Blandino has solidified his roster spot this spring

The Cincinnati Reds still have a few positions that remain unclaimed heading into Opening Day, but Alex Blandino has done everything in his power to prove that he’s worthy of consideration for one of those final spots on the Cincinnati Reds roster.

Last season, Blandino spent the entire 2020 campaign at the the alternate site in Mason, Ohio. Curiously, José García, who hadn’t played above A-Ball, was promoted to the bigs over Blandino and finished the season with the Reds.

Alex Blandino has proven that belongs on the Reds Opening Day roster.

There’s been a competition all season as to who the Cincinnati Reds starting shortstop will be. We’ve made the case for Kyle Farmer, Dee Strange-Gordon, Kyle Holdler, and Alex Blandino. Based on performance alone, Farmer seems to have wrapped up the starting job, but Blandino is a great candidate to back up the former Los Angeles Dodgers’ catching prospect.

Farmer has looked good in spring training. The 30-year-old has come in with a new number, a new swing, and new purpose; to be the Reds starting shortstop in 2021. While Farmer has just four hits and an on-base percentage below .300, he’s played well defensively.

Veteran infielder Dee Strange-Gordon hasn’t faired mush better at the dish, going 5-for-16 (.313) with on extra-base hits and a couple of steals. Strange-Gordon has historically been a second baseman throughout his career, but the Reds coaching staff believe the speedster can be a solid shortstop this season.

From an offensive perspective, Alex Blandino has more than held up his end of the bargain. The former first-round pick has eight hits this spring with three of them going for extra bases. The Stanford alum also has six RBIs and a 1.028 OPS.

Alex Blandino could work his way into the Reds starting lineup.

I don’t believe that Alex Blandino will be the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day starter at shortstop versus the St. Louis Cardinals. However, if Farmer falters and Strange-Gordon struggles, I fully expect David Bell to turn to Blandino. What does he have to lose?

With the team’s refusal to move Eugenio Suárez back to shortstop or give former first-rounder Jonathan India a real shot at the position, it feels very obvious that José García will be elevated to the Reds starting shortstop sooner rather than later. With that in mind, Blandino may get his shot as the 2021 season progresses.

Alex Blandino does one thing very well, and that’s get on base. For his career, the 28-year-old has career-OBP of .349 and a walk-rate of 11.7% according to FanGraphs. In his limited playing time in 2019, Blandino’s walk-rate was 20% and his wRC was 114. Blandino is no slouch, but it’s questionable as to whether or not he’s a starter.