Reds second round of spring roster cuts just reshaped the Opening Day rotation battle

The Cincinnati Reds announced their second-round of spring roster cuts on Friday, and two players who've been battling for a spot in the starting rotation were among those reassigned to Minor League camp.

Julian Aguiar and Jose Franco are no longer in Major League camp, meaning the fight for the last couple of spots in the Reds rotation has come down to just four pitchers. Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Chase Petty, and Brandon Williamson are still in the mix to break camp with the big-league ball club.

But Aguiar and Franco weren't the only two players sent down. Outfielder Hector Rodriguez and infielder Edwin Arroyo were both reassigned to Minor League camp and optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Shortstop prospect Leo Balcazar was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga. Darren McCaughan, who was a non-roster invite to big-league camp, was also reassigned.

Reds chase for the Opening Day rotation has narrowed considerably

Aguiar and Franco were both long shots to make the Reds Opening Day roster, but with Hunter Greene likely to miss time with an elbow injury, neither pitcher could be counted out completely.

Aguiar looked shaky in his first few appearances this spring, but both he and Franco combined for 16 strikeouts over 10⅔ innings of work during Cactus League play. The duo will soon head to Louisville to open the season with the Bats.

They'll soon be joined by two — and maybe three — more hurlers in the coming days as Terry Francona and the Reds coaching staff continue to trim the fat from the roster down to 26 players. At the moment, there are 45 players in Major League camp.

Among the other pitchers competing for a spot in the rotation, Lowder has been the talk of the group. He may have a leg up on the trio of Burns, Petty, and Williamson, but if Greene misses any time due to injury, one of those three players will likely join Lowder on the Reds Opening Day roster.

As for the prospects, it was always assumed that Arroyo, Rodriguez, and Balcazar would begin the year in the minor leagues, but a strong showing during the early part of the season could bode well for a midseason call-up.