Reds news: Latest transaction signals Nick Senzel may remain in infield

The Cincinnati Reds made a minor transaction on Tuesday afternoon, that may have major consequences. The team optioned Cionel Pérez to Triple-A Louisville and recalled outfielder Mark Payton, a signal that Nick Senzel may remain in the infield.

Senzel, who’s out of the starting lineup tonight, has started two games at third base in recent weeks and also has seen a handful of starts at second base. The former first-round pick has performed well at both positions, and may actually be Cincinnati’s best infield defender.

Look for Nick Senzel to get more starts at second base for the Reds.

Originally drafted as a third baseman out of the University of Tennessee in 2016, Nick Senzel spent virtually his entire minor league career on the infield dirt. The only reason Cincinnati even considered moving Senzel to the outfield was in order to get his bat in the everyday lineup.

With Billy Hamilton having been non-tendered in the winter of 2018, the Reds needed a starting centerfielder. With Eugenio Suarez fully entrenched at the hot corner, Cincinnati’s front office and coaching staff made the decision to move Senzel to center field prior to the 2019 season.

The results were mixed. Senzel has more than enough speed, athleticism, and arm strength to play such a crucial position in the outfield. However, Senzel plays the game with reckless abandon, and crashing into walls trying to snare a fly ball probably isn’t the best idea for a player with the 26-year-old’s injury history.

In all seriousness, the Cincinnati Reds have four third basemen on the 26-man roster and three of them are playing out of position. When fully healthy, Mike Moustakas is the team’s starting third baseman. But, Senzel, Eugenio Suarez, and Jonathan India all have experience playing the position.

Nick Senzel’s future will be determined when Joey Votto returns.

For now, with Joey Votto on the 10-day injured list with a broken thumb, the Reds can afford to keep the quintet of Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker, Shogo Akiyama, Mark Payton, and Tyler Naquin in the outfield, while rolling with an infield of Senzel, Suarez, Moustakas, India, Alex Blandino, and Kyle Farmer.

But, what happens when Votto returns from the IL? Will Alex Blandino be optioned to Triple-A Louisville or will Mark Payton return for the second time this season? Payton has played well for the Louisville Bats. He owns a slash line of .283/.353/.413 with a home run and four doubles in 11 games at Triple-A.