3 Reds players who still haven't earned a roster spot

3. Alex Blandino, Reds infielder

It just feels like the deck is stacked against Alex Blandino at this point. Though the former first-round pick actually made the Reds Opening Day roster this season, it feels as though it'll be an uphill climb if the Stanford alum hopes to stay on the team over the winter.

Though not slated for arbitration, it feels as though Blandino is a prime candidate to be non-tendered in a few weeks. With the ascension of Jose Barrero, we're likely to see Kyle Farmer become the team's No. 1 utility player off the bench.

Combine that with the play of Max Schrock last season, and it's going to be very hard for Blandino to find a spot on next year's team. Blandino is also out of minor-league options, meaning he must remain on the active roster or be exposed to waivers.

Things went downhill for Blandino after a brutal knee injury robbed him of half his rookie campaign and a good portion of the 2019 season. Blandino did not play in the big leagues in 2020 and only participated in 43 games last season.

Alex Blandino will be 29 years old when the season kicks off in 2022 and there are some good young infielders like Alejo Lopez and Brian Rey who seem like better long-term options. After all this time, it still doesn't feel like Blandino's roster spot is secure.