3 Reds players who'll make the Opening Day roster but are destined for an early exit

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona still has a handful of decisions to make before the team leaves Arizona, but for the most part, the Opening Dat roster is set.

Fans now know that Hunter Greene will miss the first several months of the season, which will open up at least one more spot on the roster to begin the season. Whether or not the 26 players who leave Goodyear remain on the active roster much past the month of May is another matter entirely.

Which three players will make the Reds Opening Day roster but quickly find themselves either back in the minor leagues or off the 40-man roster altogether?

Sam Moll, Reds pitcher

Sam Moll will get an extended stay on the roster after Caleb Ferguson was declared out for the start of the 2026 season. Moll will undoubtedly be the team's second left-handed reliever, but his time on the active roster could be tenuous.

Moll has pitched good enough this spring, but the walks have been a problem. Heading into play on Friday, he hadn't allowed a run, but had almost as many walks (6) as strikeouts (7). Moll walked more than 12% of the batters he faced in 2025, and it would seem he's done little to improve that facet of his game this spring.

Zach Maxwell, Reds pitcher

Ferguson's early-season absence adds another opening among the relievers, and Zach Maxwell could very well secure the last spot on the Reds bullpen. The 6-foot-6, 275-pound hurler made his big league debut last season, and among all the young relievers on the Reds 40-man roster, he's been the best this spring.

Nevertheless, Maxwell has been far from perfect in his six Cactus League appearances. The fastball is a legitimate plus-offering, but sometimes he struggles to find the strike zone. Look for Maxwell to be optioned to Triple-A sometime during the early-going, perhaps for one of the other young relievers like Connor Phillips or Luis Mey.

Will Benson, Reds outfielder

It sure sounds like Will Benson will be given every chance to prove that he belongs among the Reds regulars. Francona hasn't officially named him to the Opening Day roster, but all signs point toward that eventuality. The problem, however, is that he's been given umpteen opportunities to prove that he belongs, and every time has failed to make a consistent impact at the big league level.

Benson has the type of tools that makes most GMs salivate. He has speed, power, and plenty of arm to make the necessary throws from the outfield. But the strikeouts have absolutely killed Benson over the years. Last season, he struck out 26.5% of the time and owned a 34.4% whiff rate. With Rece Hinds and JJ Bleday nipping at his heels, it'll be difficult for Benson to maintain his spot much beyond April.