Edwin Arroyo's WBC decision gives this Reds prospect a chance to shine this spring

Edwin Arroyo will play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Cincinnati Reds prospect will have a prime opportunity to play against some of the best competition in the world this spring, and thanks to a plethora of absences, may even find himself in the team's starting lineup.

Arroyo's absence from camp all but guarantees he won't be cracking the Reds Opening Day roster. Missing out on weeks of spring training competition — even to play meaningful games in the WBC — eliminates any chance Arroyo may have had to impress Reds coaches and work with the staff during the exhibition slate.

But when one door closes, another is sure to open. In Arroyo's absence, fellow shortstop prospect Leo Balcazar should have ample opportunities to impress onlookers during Reds spring training.

Reds prospect Leo Balcazar should benefit after Edwin Arroyo accepts WBC nod

After trading Gavin Lux, the Reds could use bring a capable middle infielder on the bench. Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart are both expected to get some time at second base, but neither is versatile enough to fill in at shortstop if a need arises. Arroyo, who spent all of 2025 in Double-A Chattanooga while posting a 107 wRC+, was a reasonable solution to that problem.

But with Arroyo off to the WBC, Balcazar will likely get those reps this spring. He's regarded as an above-average defender at short, and could put himself on the major-league radar with a strong showing during spring training.

Balcazar's bat is not as impactful Arroyo's, but he's a patient hitter who cleaned up a lot of his strikeout issues last year. Balcazar hit .263/.339/.381 through 126 games, posting nearly identical walk (10.6%) and strikeout rates (11.1%) in 217 plate appearances at Double-A Chattanooga.

Even if this newfound opportunity doesn't lead to a quicker-than-expected MLB debut, Balcazar should jump at the chance to start with regularity during the warm up for the regular season. He can make an early impression on Reds coaching staff and the front office without having to split reps with Arroyo, which should bode well for his developmental in the coming years.