5 bold predictions for the Cincinnati Reds 2024 season

Elly De La Cruz plays 30-plus games in the Reds' outfield

When will the Reds begin to think about the big picture? Cincinnati has far too many shortstops in their farm system, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, at some point, those youngsters are either going to need a roster spot or be traded for future assets.

Cincinnati's farm system is home to several talented middle infielders. Edwin Arroyo, Carlos Jorge, Sammy Stafura, Sheng-En Lin, and Ricardo Cabrera are all slowly making their way up the ladder and will be knocking on the door to the big leagues before Nick Krall and Co. are able to blink.

Elly De La Cruz is a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop. The 22-year-old possesses the quickness, speed, and arm strength to hold onto the position for the next decade. However, at 6-foot-5, he's a bit tall for shortstop, and didn't exactly have the best defensive showing during his rookie season in 2023. De La Cruz committed 13 errors while playing the position last season.

Could De La Cruz follow in the footsteps of Fernando Tatis Jr. and make the switch to the outfield? There's certainly a section of the Reds fanbase who believe it's only a matter of time. If that's true, why not now?

The aforementioned Reds prospect Edwin Arroyo is viewed by many within the organization as the best defensive shortstop in the farm system. If his bat catches up, the Reds will have no choice but to give Arroyo a chance in the major leagues. While Reds Country may not see De La Cruz designated as an "outfielder" per se, look for him to make several starts in the outfield at some point next season.