The most obvious September call-up is staring the Reds right in the face

The Cincinnati Reds aren't out of the playoff race just yet, and the team's recent performance against the Miami Marlins has certainly injected the fanbase with some measure of hope. But the Reds have an uphill climb if they want to make a serious postseason push over the final two months of the season.

In about three weeks, the calendar will flip to September and rosters will expand. On September 1st, the Reds and every other major league team can add two players — one pitcher and one position player — to the active roster.

For the Reds, the decision should be rather obvious. If Cincinnati is all but out of playoff contention by the time rosters expand, Tucker Barnhart clear choice to join the Reds in September.

Tucker Barnhart should be one of the Reds' September call-ups

Barnhart was recently re-signed by his former club, agreeing to a minor-league deal after being let go by the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this season. Barnhart is in that same group with Brandon Phillips, Eugenio Suárez, and Scooter Gennett; he is genuinely beloved by the Reds fanbase.

But not only is Barnhart beloved by the fans, he's incredibly well-respected and liked by his teammates. Catcher Tyler Stephenson has consistently credited Barnhart as being a big reason for his success in the big leagues.

Though the Reds have refrained from using three catchers all season, there are currently four on Cincinnati's 40-man roster. With Barnhart now in the fold, should the need arise for an extra catcher before September 1st, the two-time Gold Glover would easily get the call.

Stephenson is the unquestioned starting catcher on this year's team. But Reds manager David Bell could deploy either Barnhart or Luke Maile behind the plate and get Stephenson's bat into the lineup on a regular basis as the team's designated hitter.

The only position players on the 40-man roster down at Triple-A currently are Rece Hinds, Blake Dunn, and Davis Wendzel. Aside from Hinds, none of those players are likely to have a bigger impact than Barnhart during the final month of the season. The Reds' choice is clear — Barnhart should get the call in a few short weeks.

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