CINCINNATI -- Since he’s been a prospect in the Minors, the Reds have occasionally flirted with the idea of trying Nick Senzel at shortstop. Perhaps it could finally happen later this summer.
As Senzel continues to work his way back from left knee surgery, the center fielder added a new wrinkle to his rehabilitation in recent days. Along with fellow injured player and infielder Alex Blandino, Senzel has been taking ground balls at shortstop, which he did on Monday before batting practice.
“It’s a thing,” Senzel said before walking onto the field. “It’s going good.”
Senzel, 26, has not played a game since May 17 and underwent surgery in late May to clean out damaged cartilage on the undersurface of the patella. Before he went on the injured list, manager David Bell gave Senzel six starts at second base and two starts at third base.
The Reds have gotten good production in center field from Tyler Naquin since Senzel has been out. Utility player Kyle Farmer has become the regular shortstop, but he has been playing with an abdominal muscle injury. Although Farmer has exceeded expectations defensively, Cincinnati could look to upgrade there offensively.
Trying Senzel at shortstop is a matter of Bell keeping his options open.
“I do want him to be prepared to come back and play as many positions as possible,” Bell said. “I think we got a sample right before he was injured. It was actually my first time, really, seeing him play in the infield -- second and third. For a player that didn’t do much work and was just inserted into the lineup in those spots, what he was able to do … was really incredible.
“So I think those two spots come pretty natural, and if he could play some short when he comes back, if he can play center field, it’s just going to create more opportunity for him to play.”
Senzel was listed as a third baseman when he was drafted second overall by Cincinnati in 2016, and he also played second as he worked his way up the system.
In 2018, the Reds gave Senzel an extended look at shortstop during Spring Training but ultimately opted not to move him. He played one game there that season at Triple-A Louisville.
Ahead of his rookie season in 2019, Senzel was moved to center field to fill a vacancy, and it’s where he’s played 148 of his 160 career Major League games. He’s also missed significant time with injuries, including a torn labrum in his right shoulder that forced him to miss the final 23 games in ‘19.
“They tell me where to play and I will play,” Senzel said. “I can’t guess what they are going to do.”
Of course, Senzel must still fully recover from his knee injury. Because of the progress he’s made lately, there is a chance he could begin a rehab assignment with Louisville as soon as next week.
“Hell yeah, I’m ready to do it. I want to play,” Senzel said. “I’ve missed so many games. I am tired of being in [the clubhouse]. It sucks. People think I don’t want to play and like being down there. I want to play.”
Two relievers join club
Among a flurry of roster moves on Monday, the Reds called up two right-handed relievers in R.J. Alaniz and Edgar García from Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati’s bullpen was taxed during the three-game series vs. Milwaukee, which included blown leads for losses on both Friday and Saturday.
Alaniz posted a 2.25 ERA over 21 appearances for Louisville this season. He pitched in eight big league games for the Reds in 2019 and was called up for three days in 2020 but did not pitch. García, who was signed to a one-year contract on Dec. 23 but sent outright to Louisville on April 3, has a 3.38 ERA in 24 games this season.
“We know R.J. really well. He’s been throwing well, throwing strikes. He’ll provide innings,” Bell said. “He’s got a lot of experience pitching in different situations. Edgar García has been pitching really well in Triple-A. They both deserve the opportunity. It will be great to have them both here.”
After not making the Reds out of camp this spring, García put in the work to get back to the big leagues.
“First of all, I worked on my fastball and the consistency wasn't really well down in Spring Training. And really on my slider. That's the two biggest things I was working on,” García said via translator Jorge Merlos. “I've got to give thanks to all the coaches out there who really helped me throughout this whole process and really put in the hard work every day to get me up here.”