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GOODYEAR, Arizona – Depending on the perspective and/or number of beers applied to the evaluation process, the Cincinnati Reds either have no third baseman or three of them as they stare the start of the 2025 season in the face, less than two weeks away.
Either way, it might be the least of the questions left to answer before setting the opening roster ahead of the March 27 opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Left-handed hitting Gavin Lux made another start at third base Thursday and has earned a share of regular-season playing time at this point, said manager Terry Francona, who expects switch-hitting Jeimer Candelario and righty Santiago Espinal to also rotate through the position as he mixes and matches at multiple spots.
“We’re just trying to figure out what makes the most sense on a given day,” Francona said. “I think Candelario is actually really good. Even in our workouts, he’s moving and doing things that you need to do to play the position.”
And Lux?
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“He’s done a really good job. Really good job,” Francona said. “He’s a baseball player, which is what we kind of thought when we were getting him.”
This is roughly where the Reds have landed with a third base position that was collectively the worst in the majors last year.
Not a platoon at the position, Francona emphasized.
More a three-man, multi-position daily equation of matchups, involving Lux playing some left field, Candelario rotating through first and DH, and the middle infielder Espinal getting time at third and possibly even an occasional game in the outfield.
“Because the way he swings it, any way we can get his bat against certain pitchers without sacrificing defense (is a plus),” Francona said.
No third baseman? Three of them? Three third basemen who also help cover left field, first base and backup work in the middle infield?
“Just depends on who’s pitching,” Francona said. “If we can do this, if it allows us to gain a platoon advantage and lengthen our lineup without hurting our defense, that’s the idea.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jeimer Candelario? Gavin Lux? Who's on third for Cincinnati Reds?
Continue reading...
Either way, it might be the least of the questions left to answer before setting the opening roster ahead of the March 27 opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Left-handed hitting Gavin Lux made another start at third base Thursday and has earned a share of regular-season playing time at this point, said manager Terry Francona, who expects switch-hitting Jeimer Candelario and righty Santiago Espinal to also rotate through the position as he mixes and matches at multiple spots.
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“We’re just trying to figure out what makes the most sense on a given day,” Francona said. “I think Candelario is actually really good. Even in our workouts, he’s moving and doing things that you need to do to play the position.”
And Lux?
Reds Athletics rotation Nick Lodolo Cincinnati Reds spring training: Reds drop Cactus League game to Athletics
Reds injury updates Spencer Steer Cincinnati Reds Spencer Steer: Opening Day lineup 'still a possibility'
Reds injury news Tyler Stephenson Reds manager Terry Francona says Tyler Stephenson will get an MRI. Here's why
“He’s done a really good job. Really good job,” Francona said. “He’s a baseball player, which is what we kind of thought when we were getting him.”
This is roughly where the Reds have landed with a third base position that was collectively the worst in the majors last year.
Not a platoon at the position, Francona emphasized.
More a three-man, multi-position daily equation of matchups, involving Lux playing some left field, Candelario rotating through first and DH, and the middle infielder Espinal getting time at third and possibly even an occasional game in the outfield.
“Because the way he swings it, any way we can get his bat against certain pitchers without sacrificing defense (is a plus),” Francona said.
No third baseman? Three of them? Three third basemen who also help cover left field, first base and backup work in the middle infield?
“Just depends on who’s pitching,” Francona said. “If we can do this, if it allows us to gain a platoon advantage and lengthen our lineup without hurting our defense, that’s the idea.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jeimer Candelario? Gavin Lux? Who's on third for Cincinnati Reds?
Continue reading...
