3 non-roster invitees who will make Reds Opening Day roster and 2 who will come up just short

Reds non-roster invitee Alejo Lopez will not be on the Reds Opening Day roster.

Some other non-roster invitees to watch this spring will be Chuckie Robinson and Austin Romine. But the only way that one of those two make the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day roster is if Tyler Stephenson, Curt Casali, or Luke Maile begin the year on the IL.

Otherwise, look for Alejo Lopez to be in the hunt for a roster spot until the bitter end of spring training. Lopez did enough last season to spend almost the entire offseason on the Reds 40-man roster.

It wasn't until the Reds swung a trade for outfielder Will Benson that Lopez was finally designated for assignment. The infielder cleared waivers and was re-signed to a minor league deal and then outrighted to the Louisville Bats.

Lopez has always been overlooked during his time in the Cincinnati Res organization. Lopez is a contact hitter and will never hit for power. While some fans love Lopez's grit and hustle, clubs are looking at exit velocity and launch angle.

Alejo Lopez is never going to be a 20-plus home run hitter, but the versatile infielder does have gap-to-gap power and is a switch-hitter. Lopez will give it everything he has because that's the only way he knows how to play. In the end, however, it likely will not be enough to become part of the Reds Opening Day roster.