The Cincinnati Reds have returned infielder Kyle Holder to the New York Yankees. Confused? That’s ok, this is not a directly correlated move. Cincinnati acquired Holder back at the end of January from the Philadelphia Phillies in a deal for cash. The Reds were looking at potential shortstops, and the Phillies no longer had a spot on their potential roster for a shortstop after re-signing Didi Gregorius. Philadelphia had acquired Holder in the Rule 5 draft from the Yankees back in December. Cincinnati’s acquiring him meant that they would still need to apply the same Rule 5 draft rules to Holder in 2021. If he wasn’t going to be on the 26-man roster he had to be returned to the Yankees.
Once that Cincinnati decided to give Eugenio Suárez a look at shortstop, the roster spot for Kyle Holder came into question in a big way. A glove-first infielder, he may have had a spot on the team if he were the backup shortstop. But if Suárez were the starting shortstop that would likely leave Kyle Farmer as the backup shortstop, making Holder expendable.
During the spring Kyle Holder didn’t show much with his bat. In 39 plate appearances he hit .219/.359/.250 with seven walks and 10 strikeouts. A double was his only extra-base hit of the spring in 21 games played. Never known for his bat, he did take a step forward in 2019 in Double-A Trenton. Still, he was a glove-first infielder who had a bad spring at the plate when he really couldn’t afford to do that.
Once the Reds front office and coaching staff seemed to make up their mind that Eugenio Suárez was going to be the starting shortstop, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Kyle Holder.
Mac Sceroler makes the Orioles
While the Reds sent a player back from the Rule 5 draft today, they also found out that at least for the time being that they wouldn’t be getting back a player taken from the organization in December’s Rule 5 draft. Right-handed pitcher Mac Sceroler was informed that he had made the opening day roster with the Baltimore Orioles. He posted a 6.43 ERA in 7.0 innings with six walks and three strikeouts this spring in five appearances. Sceroler has never pitched above High-A prior to this season.
Was there something beneath the stat line or are the Orioles just that bad?!
I wrote about it more in depth over at RedsMinorLeagues this evening. Long story short: He can really spin the ball well. https://www.redsminorleagues.com/2021/03/30/cincinnati-reds-mac-sceroler-makes-the-baltimore-orioles-roster/
David Bell is finally making vital changes in his roster! Our full roster should come soon!
Doug, Was wondering if you could post the official 26 man roster when it comes out. I’m having trouble finding one on other sites too.
Is Heineman still in the running for one of the final bench spots or has he already been optioned and I missed it?
He was sent to the minors.
Good for Max. Making the Bigs is a dream come true
Maybe they’ll even spell his name correctly on his jersey. 😉
Personally glad they sent Holder back to the Yankees. There was no room on the roster for a glove only utility player.