5 reasons why Elly De La Cruz won't make the Reds Opening Day roster

3. The Reds may want to move Elly De La Cruz to the outfield.

This is a sore subject for a lot of Reds fans, but among the national pundits, the idea has merit. While Elly De La Cruz has the tools to play shortstop at the major league level, a majority of scouts think he's too big to play the position.

De La Cruz is huge! While listed at 6-foot-5, there are reports that he's even bigger than that. It's rare that you see shortstops that tall. Yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates have the 6-foot-7 Oneil Cruz, but the same questions exist about his ability to stick at the position over the long haul.

One position that the Reds have failed to develop recently has been center field. Since Billy Hamilton was non-tendered in 2018, the Reds have tried a variety of different players in center and it just hasn't worked out.

Heading into spring training, there are three legitimate candidates who could open the season in center field for the Reds. Michael Siani, Nick Senzel, and Stuart Fairchild will all be competing for a spot on the 26-man roster, and with all things being equal, Senzel will probably get the nod if he's healthy.

Reds fans have a bad taste in their mouths after watching the highly-touted Senzel flounder upon his promotion to the majors after switching from third base to center field. Of course it's a bit risky for Cincinnati to move Elly De La Cruz off of shortstop, but as mentioned before, the team's depth at the position affords them the ability to do so.