Reds outfielder faces uncertain future following Nick Krall's latest comments

Did Nick Krall just tell Cincinnati Reds fans that Will Benson will not be on the 2025 Opening Day roster? That sure is what it sounded like during an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM earlier this week.

While discussing the Reds' newest addition, Austin Hays, Krall began to list the outfielders who will be competing for a roster spot during spring training. "He's (Hays) gonna be in the outfield, Spencer Steer ... TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild, all those guys are going to be competing for playing time in the outfield" Krall said. Why did Krall leave Benson off the list?

Can Will Benson force his way onto the Reds Opening Day roster?

Did Krall just forget? I mean, he didn't say Blake Dunn's name either. But after watching Benson hit .187 across 128 games and strike out 154 times last season, this could have been more than just a careless oversight.

After struggling in his Reds' debut back in 2023, Benson was demoted to Triple-A but returned in late-May. Upon his return he looked like a focal point of the Reds offense heading into 2024 after finishing the season with a .275/.365/.498 slash line, 11 home runs, 31 RBI, 19 stolen bases.

Fast forward to 2024, and Benson's performance was highly anticipated. Many Reds fans expected him to step up even more, but unfortunately, that never happened. Benson hit .187 with 154 strikeouts over 128 games last season, finishing with a 39.7% strikeout rate.

Though Krall may have mistakenly forgotten to name Benson among those in competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster, it could have been intention. Terry Francona was Benson's manager in Cleveland, and saw Benson hit a measly .182 over 55 at-bats. The fact that the Guardians traded Benson to Cincinnati prior to 2023 is quite telling as to how Francona's former organization viewed the former first-round pick.

Benson turns just 27 years old this year and has shown flashes of power and speed while certainly hustling on every play. It is hard to dislike a player like Benson, but it would not be surprising if he began the 2025 season with the Louisville Bats.

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