Edwin

Arroyo

Arroyo simply didn’t do enough to justify sticking around over someone like Juan Brito in a bench role with defensive standout Ke’Bryan Hayes back from the injured list. The 23-year-old top prospect has hit just .223 (33-for-148) with zero homers, five RBI and one steal in 50 games at the highest level this season.

The 23-year-old had started every other game during the week — either at third base or second base — but he’ll get a breather in this one with right-hander Dustin May on the bump for the Brewers. Matt McLain will start at second base and will bat ninth for the Reds.

Arroyo’s strikeout rate was 18.3 percent in Triple-A, but it’s up to 24.5 percent in the majors. Meanwhile, his walk rate has plunged from 8.5 percent to 3.3 percent. He’s also managed just four extra-base hits in 151 plate appearances, so he’s not making any sort of case for the Reds to commit to him for 2027.

He’s not in today’s lineup — Matt McLain is at second base — but he could get major at-bats down the stretch as the Reds see what they have in the 23-year-old. He starts off the fantasy radar after a .244/.286/.282 start with one stolen base and zero homers in 142 plate appearances.

The Reds pull the plug on Arroyo after a .244/.286/.282 start in 142 plate appearances in which he had one stolen base and zero homers. The 22-year-old will likely get more chances in the future, but his hitting line simply didn’t give him much room for error here despite the Reds being out of the playoff picture.

It was a box score-stuffing night for Hayes, who also played the entire game at third base. He’s played only four rehab games so far, but he seems like he’ll be ready to go after the All-Star break. Since Hayes has no minor league options left, the Reds will likely need to decide whether to send down Edwin Arroyo or Matt McLain when Hayes is ready to come back. Another option could be Nathaniel Lowe, who has hit just .203/.313/.261 with a 34 percent strikeout rate in 27 games since June 1st.

McLain made his first appearance in the outfield during Tuesday’s contest in Milwaukee and will draw his first start there during this one. The transition to more of a multi-position role feels like a clear indication that the Reds are going to roll with top prospect Edwin Arroyo as their primary second baseman. He’s made five consecutive starts at the keystone since last weekend.

There was reason for concern after De La Cruz sprained his left ankle during Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates. The 24-year-old fantasy superstar was able to finish out the contest, just his second since returning from a three-week stint on the injured list with a hamstring strain, and the Reds have apparently determined that he won’t require any additional time off to recover. It’s an extremely encouraging sign that he’s ready for Monday’s contest in Milwaukee at DH while Matt McLain handles shortstop with rookie Edwin Arroyo at the keystone.

It’s challenging to read too much into a single lineup decision, but it qualifies as noteworthy that Arroyo is at the keystone during Elly De La Cruz’s first contest back from the injured list with Matt McLain on the bench. It’s also an extremely encouraging sign that Cincinnati chose to keep him around instead of shipping him back to the minors. It’ won’t be easy for Arroyo to carve out enough playing to make an impact in shallow fantasy leagues, but he’s clearly a significant part of Cincinnati’s future at second base.

De La Cruz went 2-for-8 with a home run during a brief three-game rehab stint with Triple-A Louisville over the weekend. The electrifying 24-year-old shortstop will rejoin Cincinnati’s lineup after missing just over three weeks with a low-grade hamstring strain. He was hitting .280/.346/.509 with 40 runs scored, 12 homers, 37 RBI and 10 steals through 58 games prior to the injury. The biggest question mark surrounding his arrival is whether top prospect Edwin Arroyo will remain in the big leagues as part of their second base rotation or wind up being shipped back to Triple-A.