Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild continues to shine despite limited role

Stuart Fairchild is making it hard for the Cincinnati Reds to figure out what to do with all their outfielders heading into the offseason. The former second-round pick continues to mash, and his two-run homer led the Reds to victory on Sunday over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fairchild does not garner a lot of playing, but much like Alejo Lopez, when he's in the game, the Wake Forest product makes his presence felt. Fairchild was 2-for-4 on Sunday and is 5-for-16 (.313) since the month of September began with a pair of doubles and a home run.

Stuart Fairchild is in a dog fight for a precious spot on the Reds 40-man roster. Aristides Aquino is looking more and more like a lock to return to Cincinnati next spring and the left-handed hitting duo of Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl has played exceedingly well over the last several weeks.

Reds OF Stuart Fairchild continues to shine despite limited role.

Stuart Fairchild has benefited greatly of late after the Cincinnati Reds released former Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. But has Fairchild done enough to warrant a spot on the Reds 40-man roster over the winter?

In only 32 games this season, Fairchild has a .783 OPS, a 110 OPS+, and wRC+ of 117 according to FanGraphs. That, along with seven of his 13 hits on the season going for extra bases, demonstrate that there is plenty of pop in Fairchild's bat. Fairchild has also demonstrated elite speed as he's in the 92nd percentile according to Baseball Savant.

Stuart Fairchild, who at one time was a top outfield prospect in the Reds organization, and is now fighting to remain heading into the offseason. With so few top outfield prospects ready to breakthrough in 2023, the Reds would be wise to hang on to the 26-year-old, at least for the time being.