The Reds' plan for 2024 lineup starts with Elly De La Cruz at shortstop

GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– The Cincinnati Reds enter spring training with one of the most versatile rosters in baseball. On a team where just about every position player can play at multiple spots, the plan for the lineup on a daily basis will start with the Reds’ 6-foot-6 shortstop.

The Reds will take advantage of their versatility this year, but De La Cruz is expected to be the regular shortstop.

“Going into it, Elly will play a lot of short, and Matt will play a lot of second,” manager David Bell said. “Everything else, we’ve got to let it play out.”

While De La Cruz played both third base and shortstop last season, he’s expected to focus on shortstop this spring. McLain, who started 53 games at shortstop and 37 games at second base last season, will train at both positions this spring.

Will Matt McLain play much shortstop?

“You’ll have days where Elly gets off,” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. “McLain will play both shortstop and second.”

“McLain will play a lot of second base,” Bell said. “He has played short, and he’ll need to get some time there to prepare in case we need that.”

The combination of De La Cruz and McLain up the middle gives the Reds the most defensive upside at two premium positions. The Reds view McLain as a potential Gold Glove winning second baseman, and De La Cruz has some of the best range, lateral quickness and arm strength in baseball.

De La Cruz wasn’t a consistent defender last year, but Krall attributed his struggles to the wear-and-tear of the season. Before last season, De La Cruz had only played more than 70 total games in one single season. Since he rose up the ranks so quickly, he didn’t have much experience playing an entire 162-game season.

"Elly's a good example of what happened to our team at the end of last year,” Krall said. “Guys got tired."

De La Cruz also struggled at the plate late in the year, and the Reds worked with him during the offseason to tweak his swing. The switch hitter has shortened his leg kick on both sides of the plate in an effort to cut down his swings and misses.

With De La Cruz at shortstop and McLain at second base on most days, the plan is for India to play first base, left field, some second base and start games as the designated hitter.

“We want (India) to continue to get a lot of playing time,” Bell said. “He wants that, and we want that.”

Jonathan India injury hampers offseason work

During the offseason, India didn’t get the chance to work out in the outfield as much as the Reds expected because plantar fasciitis, an injury that landed India on the injured list last summer, popped back up during the offseason.

India took batting practice and fielded ground balls on Tuesday, but he is still going through a ramp-up progression.

“He said the foot feels fine and he feels no pain,” Reds general manager Brad Meador said. “It’s just about building up endurance.”

“We’re hoping it’s resolved soon,” Krall said.

Cincinnati Reds' lineup will rotate

Bell plans to rotate 11 potential every day players through the lineup this season, and most of the team’s infielders will play multiple positions. Jeimer Candelario will play first base and third base. Spencer Steer will mostly play in the corner outfield, but he’ll also work at second base and third base. Christian Encarnacion-Strand will play at first base and start to work in the outfield.

Noelvi Marte, who will mainly focus on third base this spring, is coming back from a hamstring injury that took place in late November. Marte’s injury usually has a six-to-10 week recovery process, and he’s not quite at full speed.

“He has been out there running,” Meador said. “He’s hitting. He’s doing everything, but just building back up.”

Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft had toe surgery in September. He threw a live bullpen against hitters on Monday, but he’s also still managing the comeback from the injury. He said some days are better than others.

“We got a plate in it, and I stayed off it for a month,” Ashcraft said. “I’ve finally built back up. It’s starting to get better, but it’s one of those things we’ll have to piece together. It’ll take its time to get feeling right, but I know I’ll be good by the season.”

Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo missed most of the year with a stress reaction in his tibia, and he’s also still going through a progression.

“We’ll see where he is in the next couple of days,” Meador said. “The tricky thing with Graham and Nick is the arm is so much further ahead because it’s a lower leg injury. The arm is fine, it’s just building out the rest of it.”

Cincinnati Reds roster projection, spring job battles

After one look at the Cincinnati Reds on the first day of spring training, they appear so ready to pick up where they left off last season that most of the roster spots already are accounted for with six weeks to train before Opening Day.

Barring injuries or unexpected whiffs by a young player or two, here’s where all 61 healthy players in camp, on Feb. 13, fit in the 26-man picture to be finalized late next month (*indicates non-roster invitee):

Starting Rotation

Locks: RHP Hunter Greene, LHP Nick Lodolo, RHP Graham Ashcraft, RHP Frankie Montas.

Competing for one job: LHP Andrew Abbott, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Nick Martinez.

Here to make an impression/provide depth: RHP Lyon Richardson, RHP Connor Phillips, Carson Spiers, RHP Christian Roa, RHP Rhett Lowder,* RHP Chase Petty,* RHP Julian Aguiar,* LHP Tyler Gilbert.*

Bullpen

Locks: Closer Alexis Diaz, RHP Buck Farmer, RHP Emilio Pagan, RHP Lucas Sims, LHP Sam Moll, LHP Brent Suter, LHP Alex Young.

Competing for one job: RHP Ian Gibault, RHP Tejay Antone, RHP Fernando Cruz, RHP Martinez (see rotation competition; he gets one or the other), LHP Abbott/Williamson (see rotation competition).

Here to make an impression/provide depth/prepare as part of second wave: RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Brooks Kriskie,* RHP Zach Maxwell,* RHP Tony Santillan,* LHP Justin Bruihl,* LHP Jacob Heatherly.*

Catchers

Locks: Tyler Stephenson, Luke Maile.

Here to make an impression/provide depth: P.J. Higgins,* Mat Nelson,* Mike Trautwein,* Daniel Vellojin,* Austin Wynns.*

Infielders

Locks: 1B/3B Jeimer Candelario, 2B/SS Matt McLain, SS/3B Elly De La Cruz, 2B/1B/OF Jonathan India, 3B Noelvi Marte, 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

Competing for one IF/OF spot: SS/CF Jose Barrero, 2B/3B/OF Josh Harrison.*

Here to make an impression/provide depth: SS Edwin Arroyo,* 2B/3B Tyler Callihan,* 2B/3B/SS Erik Gonzalez,* 2B Mark Mathias.*

Outfielders

Locks: CF TJ Friedl, RF/LF Will Benson, RF/LF Jake Fraley, LF/RF Spencer Steer.

Competing for one IF/OF spot (see above): OF Stuart Fairchild, 1B/OF Nick Martini.

Here to make an impression/provide depth: Bubba Thompson, Rece Hinds, Jacob Hurtubise, Conner Capel,* Blake Dunn.*

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds roster projection is Elly De La Cruz at shortstop