Sal Stewart's latest trial run will have Reds fans questioning Matt McLain’s future

It's only a matter of time.

Drew Koch

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Matt McLain / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds are shuffling Sal Stewart all over the diamond. After logging his first-ever professional start at first base on Tuesday night, Stewart was in the Louisville Bats' lineup as the starting second baseman for Wednesday's game against the Nashville Sounds.

Though third base is Stewart's primary position, the Reds top prospect has also played a handful of games at the keystone. While Stewart's bat is far more valuable than his glove, Reds manager Terry Francona has emphasized the need for his team to play clean baseball this season, and having a reliable defender at every position is key.

Frankly, that may be the only thing saving Matt McLain from being demoted to Triple-A. The former first-rounder can flat-out pick it at second base and has been worth 4 outs above average (OAA) this season. But will that be enough to keep McLain around if Stewart proves that he can hold down the fort at second base?

Sal Stewart's latest trial run will have Reds fans questioning Matt McLain’s future

McLain began the year red-hot, but since his return from the IL, he's been virtually unplayable from a hitting perspective. Things have gotten even worse for McLain since the All-Star break, and during the month of August, he's hitting just .209/.245/.233 with 18 strikeouts in 13 games. Things have gotten so bad, that Ke'Bryan Hayes is now hitting ahead of McLain in the batting order.

If the Reds intend to call up Stewart at some point this season — and they probably should — they must send him out as the Bats' starting second baseman for the foreseeable future. While some scouts and pundits have their doubts about the 21-year-old's ability to handle defensive duties at second base, he's only played 12 games there all season heading into play on Wednesday night.

A one-for-one swap could be in order, and if Stewart's glove doesn't hold, Francona could turn to one of Santiago Espinal or Gavin Lux in a pinch. McLain's glove is above-average, but at some point, his bat has to make a meaningful impact or else the Reds need to send him back down to the minor leagues.

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Drew Koch

Drew Koch has been an MLB Staff Writer since January 2024 and part of the FanSided Network since June 2018. Drew's contributions have been published on Blog Red Machine, Friars on Base, BoSox Injection, Lombardi Avenue, Wildcat Blue Nation, Motor City Bengals, and many other sites within the FanSided Network. When he's not cheering wildly for the Cincinnati Reds or the Kentucky Wildcats, Drew enjoys fishing, golfing, playing cribbage and other card games, listening to country and classical music, and spending time with his family and friends.