Reds are betting big on Noelvi Marte but Plan B can’t be ignored

The Cincinnati Reds are doing something they don’t always do with young hitters. They’re picking a lane and staying in it. Noelvi Marte is getting the first crack at being the everyday right fielder in 2026.

It makes sense on paper. Marte’s athletic enough to survive the move, his arm plays well in right, and the late-2025 transition gave the front office just enough evidence to talk themselves into the upside.

When you combine that with what he showed at the plate last season — roughly a .263 average with 14 homers, 10 steals, and a league-friendly .748 OPS in about 90 games — you can see the vision. Power-speed value, real exit velo (around 88.5 mph), a barrel rate that hints at damage (9%), and the kind of physical tools that can look like a breakout waiting to happen.

Reds’ right field plan quietly puts real pressure on Noelvi Marte

But the Reds aren’t just betting on Marte the hitter. They’re betting on Marte, the daily outfielder. That’s where the optimism gets a little wobbly. What is the backup plan? It’s more of a list of ideas than a concrete answer.

Spencer Steer is the obvious ripcord. He can play almost anywhere, and if Marte faceplants early, Steer can slide to right field without the Reds needing to reshuffle the entire roster. The problem is: Steer is also the roster’s duct tape. If he’s your plan B in right, then you need a plan B at first base or left field when injuries hit? At some point, “versatile” turns into “overextended.”

Then there’s the left-handed outfield mix: Will Benson and JJ Bleday. Both have real traits, both can help, and both are the kind of players who look great as depth until you need them to be the everyday solution. Benson’s athleticism is loud, Bleday’s bat can stabilize stretches, but neither screams “set-it-and-forget-it” if Marte sputters.

Rece Hinds is the wildcard with the kind of power (like Benson) that changes games… and also the kind of profile that can vanish for weeks. 

The Reds can sell you on this plan because the upside is real. Marte can absolutely make this look smart. But if he struggles — especially against lefties(.232/.288/.274), where he’s already shown a weakness — Cincinnati’s contingency options aren’t a firm parachute. They’re more like a few loose straps and a prayer that the runway lasts long enough for him to figure it out.