LOUISVILLE, KY − If the talk of Edwin Arroyo’s possible promotion to the Cincinnati Reds’ big league roster was only a matter of hitting, or if the shortstop position was a glaring area of need at Great American Ball Park for manager Terry Francona, the conversation might be a lot different than it currently is.
The 22-year-old Arroyo is ranked the No. 3 prospect in the Reds’ farm system for a reason. He has the bat and the polished shortstop’s glove to warrant serious call-up consideration today. Make no mistake; that consideration is real, and it is relative to the struggles of current and established Reds players, but it’s not a simple consideration. It’s not one to rush either.
Arroyo’s hitting has improved at every level since coming off a spring 2024 shoulder injury that derailed that year for him. Since getting back on the field in 2025, Arroyo hit .284 with a .716 OPS in 121 games at Double-A Chattanooga, and he’s following that up in 2026 with head-turning progression − a .342 batting average and .990 OPS in 49 games for Triple-A Louisville this season, albeit in 49 games.
Pat Kelly, the longtime manager of the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats, noted a modern, post-pandemic nuance that makes Arroyo’s Triple-A numbers even more impressive: Because Triple-A clubs moved to playing six-game series in 2020, Arroyo’s been contending with, and beating, constant adjustments in the way he’s pitched, not to mention that he’s facing higher-caliber pitching.
“Those pitching coaches over there aren’t dumb and they’re watching video, they’re seeing the games,” Kelly said. “Our hitters have to make those adjustments, too, which is a great test because in the big leagues you can fly into a city for three games, throw up some pretty good numbers and nobody makes an adjustment. Here, you see it right away. By the time you get to the weekend, they’re pitching you completely differently.”
Defensively, Arroyo’s shortstop bona fides aren’t in question. “He’s gonna be a big leaguer,” Kelly said, “And he’s gonna be a really good shortstop who can play great defense. That combination, you don’t get that very often.”
Notice that Kelly said “shortstop.” That’s important because where Arroyo would play in the field − and if the timing is right for the rising talent to step into a situation where there might not be playing daily − is part of the crux of this conversation.
This isn’t just about Arroyo’s ascendent bat, nor is it about Francona needing improvement from the shortstop position, because he doesn’t. Elly De La Cruz is so far putting together his most impressive and complete season, offensively and defensively. So, barring injury, Arroyo is blocked from playing his natural position in the field on an everyday basis.
Nights like Cincinnati’s 4-2 loss to the Mets on May 27, complete with 17 runners left on base and 3-for-15 hitting with runners in scoring position, make it easy to want Arroyo’s Triple-A production to automatically translate to MLB.
But automatic translation from Triple-A to Great American Ball Park isn’t a given and shouldn’t be. Just as important, there’s the matter of where Arroyo would play defensively, and if he’s ready for the likely spots he’d play.
“As an organization, you never want to promote out of necessity,” Kelly said. “Sometimes, you have to and you don’t have a choice, but last I looked we’ve got a pretty good shortstop in Cincinnati … I always say, ‘prospects tell you when they’re ready.’ I think we did a great job of keeping (Arroyo) in Double-A last year after the (2024) injury, letting him play the whole year and not trying to move him halfway through. And I think right now that he’s learning. He’s playing third base for the first time in his life. We get him over there once a week. He’s played second base … which is going to obviously add to his value, and he’s a fantastic shortstop.”
Edwin Arroyo’s pathways to playing for the Reds
After Arroyo returned to Reds spring training from the World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Puerto Rico, the Reds told him he needed to be able to play at second base and third base in order to maximize his possible avenues to come up in 2026.
“He’s only played shortstop his whole life and so, now that you’re on the (40-man) roster, you’re one move away from being in the big leagues, and we may need it to be somewhere else,” Reds general manager Brad Meador said. “(Arroyo’s) done a good job with that, but he’s still learning, for sure at third, but really second, too.
Arroyo embraced the challenge. With Louisville, he went to work with veteran Reds minor league coach Vince Harrison Jr., and his in-game experience this year at his secondary positions now amounts to 15 games at second base (119 innings) and four games at third base (36 innings) as of May 27. His one fielding error in that sample size came while he was playing second base.
“I can see a better defender now than at the start of the year − and excited to play third base,” Kelly said, adding that the defensive improvement was evident across all three positions Arroyo’s been playing.
Prior to this year, Arroyo played a dozen games at second base with Chattanooga in 2025 while most of his experience at third base came in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
The sample size and his experience at the other positions is growing, but Arroyo is ultimately still new to second base and third base.
“Like I said, he’s still learning there, and he hasn’t played a whole lot of second base either,” Meador said. “We’re throwing a lot at him right now, but he’s handling it well.”
Back when the Reds spoke to Arroyo about getting experience beyond shortstop, the Reds’ infield positions were solidified during spring training. Things are a little more fluid now. Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes is on the injured list (IL). Elsewhere, Francona has tried a variety of different lineup arrangements in attempting to get the most out of the Reds’ lineup. All of that has been cause for the Arroyo conversation to heat up in recent weeks.
So, what’s the bottom line here? Could we actually see Arroyo join the fray in 2026?
“Yeah, if we needed him and everyone thinks he can handle it, then I think we’d bring him,” Meador said. “He’s on the roster and he’s done a good job … If we needed a shortstop right now, he’s most equipped to play shortstop because that’s what he’s been his whole life.”
Edwin Arroyo says ‘I’m ready’ to play for the Reds
When Arroyo says “I’m ready” regarding his hopes for joining the Reds’ big league roster, he says it with a lot of conviction.
“Wherever they put me, I’m ready for it. Third, short, second,” Arroyo said. “If they want me to try outfield, I will. But I’m ready for it.”
He said the key to his defensive improvement has been moving his feet, and he even feels good at third base, where he conceded his prior experience amounted to very little.
Arroyo’s current résumé features a lot of the trappings of success you’d want and expect from a top-tier prospect that’s potentially on the cusp of graduating to the next level.
Is the call-up coming soon? Arroyo said he doesn’t have a sense of whether or not that’s true, but he’s working daily to arm himself with the tools he’d need if the call did come.
“At this point, I’m doing my thing,” Arroyo said, “and just trying to stay consistent.”
Cincinnati.com Reds reporter Gordon Wittenmyer contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Edwin Arroyo explains why he’s ready to help the Cincinnati Reds
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
