7 Reds players fighting for their futures ahead of 2024 season

Competition in spring training is heating up, and with so few roster battles this year, several Cincinnati Reds players could be on their way out of the organization. In short, there are a handful of players fighting for their futures with Opening Day less than three weeks away.

Last spring, it seemed as though there were more than enough open spots to go around. Non-roster invitees like Joel Kuhnel, Jason Vosler, and Derek Law were able to secure a spot on the Reds 2023 Opening Day roster.

But that seems unlikely to happen this year. The Reds roster has undergone so many changes since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, and players like Christian Erncarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, and Andrew Abbott now have a firm grasp on roster spot ahead of the 2024 season.

So which Reds players are battling tooth and nail for that elusive spot on the Opening Day roster? Whose future with the Reds organization is tied to how they perform over the next few weeks?

7 Reds players fighting for their futures ahead of 2024 season

Alex Young, Reds LHP

Young has minor-league options remaining, so it's not critical that the Reds' reliever break camp with the team. In fact, it's highly likely that Young will begin 2024 down at Triple-A Louisville. With both Sam Moll and Brent Suter likely to be part of the Reds Opening Day roster, it would seem there's not room for a third left-hander at this time.

However, Moll has been limited this spring, and it's questionable as to whether or not last year's trade acquisition will be ready in time for the Reds game on March 28th against the Washington Nationals. If Moll is unable to go, look for Young to be part of the Reds bullpen.

But Young is going to have to do the one thing he didn't do well in 2023 - find success against left-handed batters. Young had reverse splits last season; not exactly what a manager wants from his left-handed reliever. Young's roster spot may not be in jeopardy before the team leaves Arizona, but as the season progresses, the lefty could be sitting in a very precarious position.