2 Reds players who could make surprise return when rosters expand in September and 1 who won't

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The Cincinnati Reds will likely be in the thick of a pennant chase next month, but how the club fares over the next couple weeks will have great bearing on who receives a September call-up.

Roster for all 30 major league teams expand from 26 to 28 players. While there used to be an unlimited number of players occupying the dugout during the final month of the season, roster can only add two players this year.

Of course Reds fans would love to see Noelvi Marte and Connor Phillips receive a September call-up, but if the team is truly in the mix for a postseason spot, then Cincinnati may have other names in mind. Who are three players

Reds pitcher Justin Dunn could make a surprise return in September.

There's been a lot of focus on the impeding returns of both Tejay Antone and Vladimir Gutierrez, but there's been very little chatter about Justin Dunn. One of the players that Cincinnati received from Seattle after the Mariners landed Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker, Dunn has yet to take the field in 2023.

Dunn's major league career has been marred by injury. Even before he was dealt to the Reds last spring, Dunn had a lingering shoulder issue and was placed on the 60-day IL before the season even began.

A former first-round pick out of Boston College, Dunn started seven games for the Reds in 2022 before landing on the IL once again with a shoulder issue. That same injury (subscapularis muscle in his right rotator cuff) has bled over into the 2023 season.

According to MLB.com, Justin Dunn has already thrown a side session this year and is on track to begin a rehab assignment later this month. If all goes well, don't be shocked to see Dunn back on the field sometime in September.

Reds infielder Matt Reynolds could make a surprise return in September.

Laugh it up, but if you haven't followed the Louisville Bats this season, then you have no idea how good Matt Reynolds has been performing for Pat Kelly's ball club. Reynolds is hitting .284/.383/.563 with 51 extra-base hits, including 19 home runs.

Reynolds made a brief appearance with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, only to be designated for assignment a few days later. Make no mistake, there are several teams who'd be lining up to have a player like Reynolds on their roster.

The 32-year-old is a grinder. A former second-round draft choice of the New York Mets, Reynolds latched on with the Reds last season and even remained on the team's 40-man roster throughout the majority of the offseason.

In order to add Reynolds in September, Cincinnati would have to remove someone from the 40-man roster. With the discouraging news surrounding Jonathan India, don't be surprised if Reynolds is called up next month in order to add some infield depth in the event that the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year is out for the season.

Some fans would surely prefer Noelvi Marte to Mat Reynolds, and if the Cincinnati Reds are squarely out of the playoff chase once September rolls around, that's probably the more prudent move. But if the Reds are fighting for their playoff lives, adding a calming, veteran presence that Reynolds would be a wise choice.

Reds infielder Nick Senzel will not make a surprise return in September.

While there is definitely some truth to the fact that Nick Senzel has struggled against right-handed pitching, it just feels like there's more at play here. Instead of optioning T.J. Hopkins back to the minors in order to select the contract of Henry Ramos, the Reds choose to option Senzel.

Senzel's role was reduced to little more than platoon bat who was only in the lineup against left-handed pitchers. Senzel has an OPS over .900 against southpaws, but was hitting just .175/.251/.281 against right-handed pitchers.

Senzel has fallen from grace. Once a highly-regarded prospect within the organization, the 27-year-old is likely to be traded or released during the offseason, despite the fact that Senzel is under team control through the 2025 season.

When it comes to outfield depth, the Reds have the aforementioned Hopkins and Ramos, along with TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and Stuart Fairchild. Jake Fraley is hopeful to return in a few weeks, and Spencer Steer has seen time in the outfield as well.

On the infield dirt, even with Jonathan India possibly out for the remainder of the season, the Reds have Steer, Joey Votto, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Kevin Newman. It seems a bit harsh to say this, but I don't think Senzel can crack this lineup at the moment.

If an injury or two pops up, perhaps the Cincinanti Reds recall Nick Senzel in September. But Matt Reynolds, Noelvi Marte, or even Alejo Lopez might be better options at this point in the season. Fans may have seen the last of Senzel in a Reds uniform.

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