Reds' Rule 5 draftee's speed, versatility could replace Cincy's go-to bench player

The Cincinnati Reds’ decision to select Cooper Bowman, a light-hitting infield prospect, in this year’s Rule 5 Draft may seem like a risk to some. After all, he has to stay on Cincy’s 26-man roster for the duration of the season or else be offered back to the A’s. However, Bowman’s speed and contact skills could be a valuable replacement if the Reds decide to finally cut ties with Will Benson.

Benson has served as a fourth outfielder the past two seasons, and while his 2023 campaign was encouraging, he completely fell apart in 2024. Benson's .187 average marked a regression to his time in Cleveland when he hit .182 with Terry Francona’s Cleveland Guardians. That performance earned him a ticket out of town.

Rule 5 draft pick Cooper Bowman has a chance to supplant Will Benson as the Reds’ bench player

Of most concern is Benson’s soaring strikeout rate. He is rapidly approaching 40%, which robs the Reds of his plus-speed on the bases. Bowman also has some serious wheels, earning a 65 grade and stealing at least 35 bases in each of his three full pro seasons. Bowman’s strikeout rate, granted in Double-A and Triple-A, was just 21.4% while his walk rate was 11%. This would potentially give Bowman more chances to impact the game on the basepaths than Benson had last season.

Bowman comes with risk, though. He has just 38 Triple-A games under his belt, and while it initially seemed like the adjustments that he made in Double-A would translate to Triple-A success, his batting average dropped from .274 to .218 over the final month of the season. This could have been due to conditioning, as he has played 100-plus games just one other time in his injury-plagued career.

Bowman’s offensive decline could also be a result of a defensive shift that could imperil Benson. Primarily a second baseman, Bowman shifted to center field in Triple-A to avoid competing with top middle-infield prospects Max Muncy and Nick Allen. He had a few defensive snafus (4 errors), but his range factor per nine innings matches Benson’s contributions at center.

Benson may not be completely out of a job yet. He has two more minor league options left on his contract, and he has an established relationship with Francona. There could be a world in which Benson and Bowman serve as a lefty-righty bench platoon, but many of the Reds' outfielders are bat left-handed, limiting Benson's usefulness as more than a pinch-hitter. Ultimately, Bowman’s versatility, control of the zone, and speed could shake up the bench roles on the 2025 Reds.

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