The Reds need to get outfielder Stuart Fairchild more at-bats

Nick Senzel was a late-scratch on Wednesday evening in the Bronx. The former first-round pick was suffering from mid-back tightness. But the injury did not appear to be severe as Senzel made an appearance in the eighth inning as a pinch runner.

With Albert Almora Jr. on the Injured List without designation, Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell turned to former outfield prospect Stuart Fairchild. The former second-round pick did not disappoint.

In his first at-bat, Fairchild joined teammates Kyle Farmer and Mike Moustakas by taking New York Yankees starter Luis Severino deep. Fairchild put the exclamation point on the Reds back-to-back-to-back home runs.

Fairchild wasn't done, however. The Wake Forest product went 2-for-3 on the night and played good defense up the middle. While Fairchild has a profile of a fourth outfielder, the Cincinnati Reds need to find more opportunities to get the 26-year-old into the lineup.

The Reds need to get outfielder Stuart Fairchild more at-bats.

The Cincinnati Reds traded away Stuart Fairchild back in 2020. Looking to bolster their bullpen, the front office dealt Fairchild and former utility player Josh VanMeter to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Archie Bradley.

Fairchild played 20 games at the major league level for three different clubs over the last year-plus and has played just two games for the Reds since being acquired off waivers from the San Francisco Giants a few weeks back.

With the possibility of both Tommy Pham and Tyler Naquin being traded before the deadline, there may be a couple of openings in the Cincinnati outfield. The Reds also have Jake Fraley and Aristides Aquino rehabbing at Triple-A Louisville. TJ Friedl is on the farm as well.

For my money, the Reds should roll with the right-handed bat of Stuart Fairchild over Aquino. Since returning to the Cincinnati organization in mid-June, Fairchild had been hitting .315/.354/.685 with 12 extra base hits, including seven home runs. The Cincinnati Reds need to keep his bat in the lineup.