Reds: 3 players who could lose their roster spot when Nick Senzel returns

Who will lose their roster spot when Nick Senzel returns to the Reds?

Nick Senzel has missed a considerable amount of playing time this season due to injury; it feels like we’ve written that statement before. The former first-round pick has struggled to stay on the field during his first three major league seasons, but Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell expects the former University of Tennessee standout to return to the team very soon.

Senzel has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville for nearly two weeks. He along with Mike Moustakas began their quest to return back on July 30th. Moustakas has since returned to the lineup and is splitting duty with Eugenio Suarez at third base.

Senzel’s return is a bit different, as it appears as though Cincinnati will not use the 26-year-old exclusively as an outfielder. This season, for the first time in his major league career, Senzel has seen considerable playing time on the infield dirt. The former No. 2 overall pick played third base in college and spent most of his minor league career at either second or third base.

While the first week-plus of Senzel’s rehab assignment saw him playing center field, yesterday the former Farragut High School graduate started the game at shortstop for the Louisville Bats. Bell plans to deploy Senzel all over the diamond when he returns to the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup.

There’s not a lot of wiggle room with the Reds current roster. While Cincinnati is currently carrying nine relievers, none of them have minor-league options remaining. The Redlegs do have an abundance of outfielders at this time, but most of them appear indispensable or no longer have minor league options. So who loses their roster spot when Nick Senzel returns to the lineup?

1. Tyler Naquin, Reds outfielder

While it seems as though Tyler Naquin has been in the major leagues forever, believe it or not, the left-handed slugging outfielder actually has two minor league options remaining. Optioning Naquin to Triple-A would be the least disruptive decision as it relates to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster.

It’s not as if Naquin has experienced the same level of success that the former Cleveland Indians’ outfielder did earlier this season. After Senzel was shelved for a short stint following a shoulder injury on Opening Day, the Reds inserted Naquin into the starting lineup and the left-handed hitting slugger delivered.

However, of late, Naquin has failed to produce at that same dominant level. Since June 1st, Naquin has an OPS of just .652. To put it in perspective, over that same timeframe, Eugenio Suarez has an OPS of .648. On the season, the 30-year-old has played in 100 games with 82 starts. But, Naquin is hitting just .241/.310/.417 with an OPS+ of 84.

It stands to reason that Naquin would be optioned to Triple-A and then return to the team when the rosters expand in September. It just so happens that Nick Senzel and Tyler Naquin play the same position. David Bell could still deploy Senzel as an infielder and start Aristides Aquino or Shogo Akiyama in center field as well.

2. Heath Hembree, Reds reliever

It feels like only a matter of time before the Cincinnati Reds and Heath Hembree part ways. Brad Brach was sent to the injured list with a shoulder impingement in order to bring Lucas Sims back to the active roster, but you have to believe that designating Hembree for assignment was on the table as well.

No, Nick Senzel is not a pitcher, but the Reds are currently carrying 14 pitchers on the roster, including nine relievers. Unlike Tyler Naquin, Heath Hembree no longer has any minor league options remaining, so moving on from the right-hander would require Cincinnati to designate the former Cleveland Indians’ reliever for assignment.

The possibility exists for Hembree, much like Brach, to be sent to the IL as well. This would allow the Reds to preserve his roster status and keep him within the organization rather than exposing the 32-year-old to waivers. To be honest, whether it’s injury related or not, it has seemed like Hembree has been laboring through his last few trips to the mound.

Heath Hembree pitched well when Cincinnati’s bullpen was in dire straits, but with the additions of Luis Cessa, Justin Wilson, and Mychal Givens, his role has changed. David Bell no longer needs Hembree to lock the game down in the ninth inning. We’re much more likely to see the right-hander appear in the sixth or seventh inning moving forward.