Juan Brito's September breakout comes with a catch the Reds can't overlook

Juan Brito smashed another home run on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves, lending even more credence to the notion that he's earned an opportunity to fight for a starting spot on the Cincinnati Reds' 2027 roster.

Since being called up on September 1, Brito's hitting .341/.362/.591 with three home runs, 11 RBI, and a 155 wRC+. But 15 games does not a career make, and there's one aspect of his game that's lagged behind. He's hitting just .147 with a .461 OPS and 22 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. That needs to improve if he's looking to secure an everyday role in 2027.

Juan Brito is making a case for a spot on the Reds' 2027 Opening Day roster

During his short stint in the big leagues this season, Brito has proven himself to be up to the task. A career middle infielder, he's played multiple positions since joining the Reds, including three appearances in the outfield.

It would seem, however, that Brito's most comfortable position is second base. Considering how poorly both Matt McLain and Edwin Arroyo have performed this season, it's not difficult to imagine an open competition emerging once spring training rolls around.

For the second year in a row, McLain has failed to recapture the magical season he enjoyed during his rookie year in 2023. He's currently hitting .187/.276/.340 with 15 homers, 39 RBI, and a 69 wRC+. Were it not for his above-average glove at second base, McLain might be alongside Arroyo and Noelvi Marte in Triple-A.

Speaking of Arroyo, his two-month stint with the big-league ball club was anything but inspiring. Through his first 50 big-league games, he posted a meager .223/.266/.264 slash line with a 46 wRC+. Arroyo has been among the worst hitters in the league this season, and one wonders what the future holds for him after such a poor start.

Brito's versatility also offers Cincinnati an insurance policy in the event that Spencer Steer is slowed during his recovery from offseason wrist surgery. The Reds announced earlier this week that Steer will undergo surgery to repair a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his right wrist.

While both Steer and manager Terry Francona expect the Reds top utility player available for spring training, these type of injuries can oftentimes include a lengthy recovery process. Having Brito on the roster will be a nice failsafe.

The rookie has four more games to add to his résumé, but the Reds have to like what they've seen from Brito thus far. At the very least, he's beginning to look like a solid platoon option against left-handed pitching.

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