The Cincinnati Reds continued to trim the roster ahead of Monday’s Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres. After holding on longer than his fellow prospects, the Reds finally made the decision to send infielder Sal Stewart down to minor-league camp.
But that move was expected, and if we’re being honest, so were the others. In addition to Stewart, the Reds also reassigned infielder Tyler Callihan, outfielder Rece Hinds, pitchers Connor Phillips and Yosver Zulueta, and third baseman Noelvi Marte to minor-league camp.
Noelvi Marte and Connor Phillips among latest Reds roster cuts
Marte was the odds-on favorite to be the Reds starting third baseman last season, but a PED suspension last spring and tremendous struggles upon his return from an 80-game absence saw the infielder fall out of favor with the front office and the fanbase.
Marte’s struggles carried over to Winter Ball and eventually the Cactus League. Marte was 3-for-20 in 11 games this spring with a double and two triples. But Marte struck out eight times and was only able to draw one walk.
While most Reds fans assumed that Marte would begin the 2025 season in the minors, his spring struggles only heightened the need for the 23-year-old to begin this season at Triple-A Louisville. Phillips, Callihan, Hinds, and Zulueta will all join Marte in the Derby City, while it’s likely that Stewart will start his year at Double-A Chattanooga.
Stewart had been turning heads all spring. The former first-round draft pick has surpassed all expectations, and was one of the few Reds players to actually get a hit on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. After going 2-for-3 versus the Halos, Stewart’s spring batting average rose to .263 with a .917 OPS. Stewart has an outstanding eye at the dish, and showed that this spring with four walks to just three strikeouts.
With both Marte and Stewart now in minor-league camp, the competition to be the Reds Opening Day third baseman is likely down to the trio of Gavin Lux, Santiago Espinal, or Jeimer Candelario. With news that Cincinnati will now give Lux reps in left field and Espinal’s lack of pop, Candelario seems like the logical choice to open the year at the hot corner.
But while Reds fans are hopeful to see Candelario rebound from a down-year in 2024 and live up to that three-year, $45 million contract, Nick Krall and Co. are also betting that one of Marte or Stewart will force the team’s hand and become Cincinnati’s everyday third baseman at some point in the near future.