Projecting the 2022 Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster 1.0

Cincinnati Reds starting lineup (9)

Joey Votto (1B), Jonathan India (2B), Kyle Farmer (SS), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Tyler Naquin (RF), Nick Senzel (CF), Jesse Winker (LF), Tyler Stephenson (C), Mike Moustakas (DH)

Honestly, looking at the Cincinnati Reds starting lineup should give fans a lot of confidence. I'd put the Cincinnati regulars among the best in the division, but there are a lot of question marks that go along with that statement.

Can Joey Votto replicate the renissance-type season we saw from the former MVP in 2021? Will Jonathan India endure a sophomore slump? How will Eugenio Suárez respond after the worst season of his career? Is Tyler Stephenson ready to be a full-time starter? And the biggest question of all, are the trio of Mike Moustakas, Jesse Winker, and Nick Senzel fully healthy?

There are a lot "what ifs" in the starting lineup, but if all nine players are healthy and play up to their potential, you have to like where the Reds are sitting. Another question that needs to be answered is at shortstop. Will Kyle Farmer outplay Jose Barrero in camp? If so, how long of a leash will David Bell give Farmer?

Barrero is too talented to just ride the pine, and I'd expect to see the 23-year-old garner a few starts per week in the early going of the season. If Farmer struggles at the plate or Barrero enters the season on fire, I see no reason to keep Barrero on the bench for very long. The possibility still exists that the rookie outplays Farmer in spring training and draws the start at shortstop on Opening Day.