Edwin Arroyo is quietly creating a Reds dilemma nobody saw coming

Cincinnati Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo is off to a scorching-hot start at Triple-A Louisville, and the discussion about his future is bound to come up at some point this season. What are the Reds' plans — both in the short and long-term — for the 22-year-old shortstop?

Arroyo seems to be the prospect that Reds fans forgot. He came to the organization in 2022 as part of the trade package the Seattle Mariners sent to Cincinnati in exchange for ex-Reds ace Luis Castillo, though he wasn't headliner of the return. Noelvi Marte held that mantle and was the Reds' top prospect for quite some time.

Arroyo missed all of his 2024 minor-league campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery and he still seemed to be regaining his strength throughout the 2025 season. Arroyo hit just .272/.333/.354 with a 99 wRC+ through July 13, but .301/.361/.393 with a 117 wRC+ after the All-Star break.

How will the Reds handle Edwin Arroyo with Elly De La Cruz on the roster?

Arroyo's in a tough spot. Obviously there's no harm getting him regular reps at Triple-A, but as you peer into the future, it's difficult to find an everyday home for him on the active roster. Elly De La Cruz will lay claim to the shortstop position for the next several seasons, and Matt McLain's return to form during spring training has the Cincinnati brass hopeful that he'll bounce back after a down-year in 2025.

Changing positions would seem to be off the table for Arroyo. Though he's a good enough athlete to be deployed at multiple positions around the diamond, he's a true shortstop in every sense of the word. While he doesn't possess De La Cruz's elite arm strength, he checks almost every other box is arguably a better defender than the Reds' All-Star.

It's still incredibly early, but Arroyo is hitting .292/.393/.542 through his first week at Triple-A. The Reds' front office will want to see more of that before Arroyo forces their hand, but he's off to a good start.

Arroyo has long been seen as a potential trade chip in the eyes of Reds fans, but dealing him at this time may be unwise. Cincinnati has little to no depth at shortstop behind De La Cruz, and should the Reds' superstar suffer an injury of some sort, having Arroyo on stand-by is a great backup plan.

Like so many before him, Arroyo can only control what's in front of him, and at the moment, that's handling Triple-A pitching. If he continues to knock the cover off the ball, he may force his way to Cincinnati sooner than fans expected.