The Cincinnati Reds have built their reputation in recent years on the strength of their farm system, turning once-familiar rebuild years into a steady conveyor belt of young, talented players ready to impact the big-league roster.
That pipeline is still flowing strong, but with it comes the inevitable logjam: there aren’t enough everyday spots to go around. Nowhere is that reality clearer than at second base, where a former future cornerstone, Matt McLain, suddenly looks more vulnerable than ever.
At first glance, second base feels like it should belong to McLain by default. After all, he’s only 26 and has now proven he can handle the grind of a full season in the majors.