GOODYEAR, Arizona – If Terry Francona’s hiring brought urgency to the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, a rebuilt bullpen and the sudden addition of Eugenio Suárez to a playoff incumbent has delivered a heightened buzz in 2026 as the Reds open spring training in Goodyear, Arizona, this week.
Expectations haven’t been this high in at least five years, the upcoming season full of the promise of even bigger things from All-Stars such as Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, a deep and talented starting rotation back from October and a group of fielders that have gone from mistake-prone to competitive in the past year.
They won’t play a game that counts until Greene’s first pitch to the Boston Red Sox on March 26 in the opener.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of work and decisions to sort out between now and the time they break camp a few days ahead of Opening Day.
Which makes these five players in particular worth watching over the next six week:
Eugenio Suárez: Mr. Big
All eyes figure to be on Suárez, the 11th-hour signing of the free agent slugger who returns to the scene of his prime as the highest-paid Red and the would-be savior for a runs-challenged lineup that kept last year’s playoff team from higher achievement.
He’ll be worth watching in camp if only for his influence in the clubhouse and continued good health through the World Baseball Classic (Team Venezuela) as the Reds lock in exactly where they’ll have Elly De La Cruz and Suárez hitting back-to-back in the lineup (2-3? 3-4?).
Sal Stewart: Mr. Wild Card
Stewart retains his rookie status into a season in which he could move to the front of the Rookie of the Year race if he earns regular playing time and performs like he did when he led the club in home runs last September and performed well in the Reds’ playoff cameo against the Dodgers.
Where exactly the suspect corner infielder can get the playing time if Suárez is getting most of the DH at-bats will be a big decision next month if Stewart has earned a big-league job as many expect.
Spencer Steer: Mr. GPS
Steer was an unsung hero for the lineup last year, playing all season despite opening the season still recovering from shoulder issues and playing through rib-cage pain late in the season.
He’s poised this year to not only build off the good numbers he produced after the shoulder normalized but also to make guys like Suárez and Stewart fit more easily in the lineup if he successfully returns to playing multiple positions following his Gold Glove-finalist performance at first base last year. Will he be the regular left fielder? Rotate through both corner outfield spots and the right side of the infield? Second base?
Matt McLain: Mr. Comeback
Speaking of second base, McLain struggled most of last year after returning from an injured shoulder that cost him all of 2024. He’s still the best-fielding second baseman among the returning big-leaguers, but he’ll have to hit to stay in the lineup this time around (he batted .220 in 147 games) — never mind to earn he elevated position in the lineup the Reds have envisioned since his stellar, three-month debut in 2023.
With Gold Glove winner Ke’Bryan Hayes presumably playing every day at third, McLain could become a defensive linchpin for an infield with a fielding-work-in-progress shortstop (De La Cruz) and that could include a more limited glove at first most days.
Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns: Mr. September and Mr. October?
The Reds’ No. 7 and No. 2 overall draft picks from the 2023 and 2024 drafts are expected to be fully healthy and fully loaded to challenge for big roles in the Reds’ rotation after Lowder’s exceptional six-start debut in 2024 (1.17 ERA) and Burns’ power show in his debut season last year.
As much as Suárez and the lineup have the potential to make a major difference in how strong the Reds are this year, these two right-handers could make the season explosive if they deliver on their promise all season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 key Cincinnati Reds to watch this spring as pitchers, catchers report
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
