3 Cincinnati Reds who could be the team's DH versus left-handed pitching

2. Aristides Aquino is an option to be the Cincinnati Reds DH versus LHP.

I don't even know if Aristides Aquino will be on the Cincinnati Reds roster come Opening Day, but if he is, the designated hitter seems somewhat tailor made for The Punisher. While Aquino has struggled to find the same level of success he saw during August of 2019, a more defined role may help the slugger regain his swing.

Aquino's best asset is his power, but his bat has grown silent over the last two seasons, but a lot of that may be due to lack of opportunities. After replacing Yasiel Puig in right field during the last two months of the 2019 season, and looking like a lock to be Cincinnati's right fielder to begin the 2020 season, the Reds front office signed two outfielders during the offseason.

Now, in no way am I begrudging Dick Williams and Nick Krall for bringing in Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos prior to the 2020 campaign. But, an already crowded outfield situation was all of the sudden bursting at the seams.

Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel, two former first-round picks, were sure to be part of the Reds everyday lineup in 2020, but the additions of Akiyama and Castellanos virtually guaranteed some type of platoon. The addition of the universal DH and Senzel's absence due to illness helped David Bell juggle his outfield a little bit.

But Aristides Aquino lost a good deal of playing time, and became a part-time player. That certainly didn't help his confidence, and a similar role was his last season. Perhaps a more clearly defined role (DH versus left-handers) will offer Aquino the ability to shine.

A career slugging percentage of .478 is nothing to sneeze at, and I can guarantee you that some team will pluck Aquino off waivers if he's released. This is the last chance The Punisher will have to remain part of the Cincinnati Reds roster.