MILWAUKEE – Following the trade deadline, the main mission for the Cincinnati Reds in the final two months of the season was evaluating which players should earn bigger roles for the 2023 season.
Jose Barrero has been an everyday starter at shortstop since Aug. 3. Aristides Aquino, designated for assignment once this season, was granted another opportunity to prove if he could hit enough at the big-league level.
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There are other inexperienced players gaining valuable experience, but it’s less about guys like Nick Lodolo and Spencer Steer, who will be a part of the team’s core roster next season, and more about a guy like TJ Friedl using these final months as a showcase.