3 Reds players who could be All-Star starters in 2026

CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 12: Jonathan India #6 of the Cincinnati Reds stands in the dugout. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 12: Jonathan India #6 of the Cincinnati Reds stands in the dugout. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
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Jose Garcia #38 of the Cincinnati Reds in action during a preseason game.
MESA, ARIZONA – MARCH 01: Jose Garcia #38 of the Cincinnati Reds in action during a preseason game. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

3. Jose Barrero, Reds shortstop

Jose Barrero, formerly Jose Garcia, is going to make a major impact. The only question is when. There was an outside chance that Barrero would’ve made this year’s squad out of spring training due to the lack of depth at shortstop. However, the Reds shifted gears midway through the spring and settled on Eugenio Suarez as the starting shortstop for the 2021 season.

Barrero is ranks as the team’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and No. 1 according to FanGraphs. The 22-year-old got his feet wet last season, and the front office is doing their due diligence in 2021 having kept the shortstop in the minors to begin the season.

Barrero is currently at Double-A Chattanooga, but a call-up to Triple-A Louisville in the coming weeks seems inevitable. In 29 games, Barrero is slashing .330/.391/.539 with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Barrero has a wRC+ of 156 and his 8.6% walk-rate is the best of his career.

Oh yeah, Barrero is also a phenomenal defensive shortstop. This young man will be in the Gold Glove conversation year-in and year-out. If Barrero were called up today, he’d immediately be the Reds best defensive infielder.

The only thing that may keep Jose Barrero from becoming an All-Star starter in 2026 is the competition. Fernando Tatis Jr. will undoubtedly be in the conversation, but few others are on the radar right now.

More than half the Top 10 shortstop prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, are currently in American League organizations. C.J. Abrams, who’s part of the Padres organization, is unlikely to remain with his current team and may join the AL ranks as well.

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