2. Hunter Renfroe still has to prove he deserves to be on the Reds playoff roster.
The Cincinnati Reds showed that they were in it to win it with the addition of Hunter Renfroe at the waiver claim deadline earlier this month. The former Los Angeles Angels outfielder was supposed to bring some extra pop to the Reds lineup for the stretch run.
Instead, it's been more of disappointment. Renfroe is hitting just .133/.235/.233 since joining the Reds and, most of his starts, have come as the team's designated hitter.
As was mentioned earlier, the most likely scenario for the Reds, if they make the postseason, is to face the Milwaukee Brewers' three-headed monster of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. David Bell would likely keep Renfroe on the bench and place Jake Fraley in the lineup as the Reds DH.
So that begs the question, the Renfroe provide enough off the bench to warrant a spot on the Cincinnati Reds playoff roster? Given his performance since joining the Reds, the answer would seem to be a resounding, no.
But there's still time left for Hunter Renfroe to get hot and prove that he belongs. The Reds will need an extra right-handed hitting outfielder in addition to the versatile Spencer Steer, and Renfroe has the next two weeks to prove that he can be that guy.