Santiago Espinal’s slump will have Reds fans reconsidering a return they once dreaded

No one is going to complain about Santiago Espinal's defense, but he's hitting just .188/.243/.232 since being elevated to the No. 2 spot in the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Espinal's performance has been so bad that some Reds fans might actually be glad to have Jeimer Candelario back in the starting lineup. Candelario is beginning a rehab assignment with the Reds' Arizona Complex League team this week.

Terry Francona has been bullish in his stance on Espinal. The Reds manager claims that Espinal is one of the team's best hitters despite evidence to the contrary. While Espinal rarely strikes out (11.1% K rate), he's grounded into a team-leading seven double plays this season; five of which have come since being slotted ahead of Elly De La Cruz in the lineup.

Espinal has no power to speak of. His .305 slugging percentage is second-to-last on the Reds this season, with only Matt McLain producing less pop (which in and of itself is shocking). Espinal's .052 ISO (Isolated Power) isn't just the worst on the Reds roster, but only Xavier Edwards (.034 ISO) has a lower figure among all MLB players.

Santiago Espinal’s slump will have Reds fans reconsidering Jeimer Candelario's return to the lineup

It might be a leap to assume that Reds fans will be ecstatic to see Candelario back in the lineup, but given Espinal's struggles at the dish, it can't be much worse. Candelario himself struggled before being placed on the injured list in late-April, but he's shown a penchant in the past to send balls out of the yard with regularity.

There was a stretch in 2024 where Candelario was one of the hottest hitters in the major leagues. During the month of June last season, Candelario hit .290/.302/.591 with eight home runs and 19 RBI over the course of 23 games. Espinal's career-best nine home runs came in 118 games last season.

Candelario's rehab begins in Arizona, and he'll then be moved to Triple-A Louisville. Once he proves to be back on track, Candelario will be resinated from the injured list, and no doubt find his way back into the starting lineup.

Given how long of a leash Francona has already given to both Espinal and McLain, it's unconscionable to think that Candelario wouldn't be given the same type of treatment. If Candelario can recapture that swing that saw him keep Cincinnati afloat last summer, there's every to believe he'll become a fixture in the Reds lineup.

Unfortunately, since July 1 of last season, Candelario has managed to hit just .166/.229/.302. If those are the type of numbers Candelario posts upon his return, Reds fans will want both he and Espinal off the roster altogether.

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