3 changes that need to be made just 10 games into the Reds 2023 season

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The Cincinnati Reds are 4-6 after their first 10 games of the 2023 season. Seeing as how it took the team until May 7, 2022 before they notched their fourth win a year ago, I'd call that an improvement.

If you're being honest with yourself, you'd probably have to admit that the Reds are better than you thought they were going to be. Were it not for some bullpen implosions through the first week-plus of the 2023 season, the ole Redlegs could easily have a winning record.

This year's Cincinnati Reds team has some fire in its belly, and while it's hard to see the team playing winning baseball this season, David Bell's squad certainly has potential. But just 10 games into the 2023 season, there are already some changes that need to be made.

1. The Reds need to move Luis Cessa back to the bullpen.

This just needs to happen. I can understand giving Luis Cessa a chance to start, I really can. But moving the right-hander back to the bullpen is the right call. Doing so would solve a myriad of problems.

First, the bullpen is just not good. Kevin Herget? Derek Law? Ian Gibaut? Buck Farmer? Cessa is a better option than all three of these pitchers. Seeing as how he's already stretched out, Cessa could give the Reds multiple innings of relief.

It would also open up a rotation spot. In the immediate future, one would assume that Luke Weaver would take Cessa's spot in the rotation. But with Levi Stoudt, Brandon Williamson, and Andrew Abbott making their way up through the minor leagues, the Reds will need that spot at some point very soon anyway.

Luis Cessa left the World Baseball Classic in order to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. That's admirable. He also got lit up like a Christmas tree his second time through the Atlanta Braves batting order on Tuesday night. It's time to move Luis Cessa back to the bullpen.

2. The Reds need to bump Wil Myers down in the batting order.

The Wil Myers era in Cincinnati has not gotten off to a great start. The former San Diego Padres outfielder is 7-for-36 to begin the 2023 season and has 15 strikeouts. According to FanGraphs, that's a strikeout-rate of 37.4-percent.

Now, it hasn't been all bad for Myers, as the 32-year-old has a walk-rate of nearly 15-percent and an on-base percentage of .310. But after posting a wRC+ above 100 the past three seasons, I'm pretty sure Reds Country was expecting more.

Myers has consistently been slotted fifth in David Bell's lineup. It's time for he and Spencer Steer to swap places. Steer has routinely been seventh, but typically occupies the No. 2 spot against left-handed pitchers.

Steer is absolutely crushing the ball to begin the 2023 season. According to FanGraphs, Steer has a slash line of .314/.400/.600 with a wRC+ of 154. There's power in Steer's bat and plenty of it. While Steer's defense at third base is questionable, his hitting prowess is not.

It may a blow to the old ego, but Wil Myers cannot be hitting in the middle of the Cincinnati Reds lineup at this time. Only one of Myers' seven hits have gone for extra bases and he's yet to record a home run. For now, Myers should be in the bottom-third of the Reds lineup.

3. The Reds need to option Will Benson and recall Nick Senzel.

Will Benson has proven two things since his arrival in Cincinnati. First, he's extremely athletic. Second, he needs more seasoning in the minor leagues. Benson is hitting .056 with a strikeout-rate of 52.6-percent. That's a staggering number.

Now, it's obviously early and these stats can look worse than they really are with such a small sample size. But Benson has just looked overmatched at the dish. The 24-year-old could probably use another few months in the minors with some focused attention on pitch recognition.

Nick Senzel, on the other hand, has looked very good during his rehab stint with the Louisville Bats. Senzel is 6-for-22 with a pair of doubles and a home run. He's currently hitting .273/.407/.500 and has seen time at third base, center field, and, wait for it, left field.

The Cincinnati Reds are focused on turning Senzel into a super utility player. If the 27-year-old can stay healthy, and that's always a big if, then David Bell could deploy the former first-round pick at multiple positions.

Will Benson, not Stuart Fairchild, needs to be the first casualty from the group of position players this season. Yes, the Reds would be losing a left-handed bat. But what good is it if Benson is striking out once every two at-bats?

dark. Next. 2 Reds players moving up the depth chart, 2 moving down

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