Scott Schebler had a red hot start for the Cincinnati Reds. He homered in his first at-bat and was hitting .368 with a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles after going 7-for-19 in his first seven spring training games.
Then Schebler ran into problems. He has just one hit (a homer) in his last 20 at-bats and has struck out eight times during his current funk. After 39 total spring training at-bats, Schebler is hitting just .205.
Schebler has hit three homers this spring. His power from the left side of the plate is a strength that might help Schebler make the 25-man opening day roster.
Schebler does have two option years left if the Reds decide Schebler is better off starting the 2016 season in Triple-A. He could play right field in the minors to prepare for eventual replacement of current Reds’ right-fielder Jay Bruce.
Schebler played in 121 Triple-A games last year. He slashed .241/.322/.410 in 485 plate appearances. He also hit just 13 homers and fanned 93 times.
Schebler came to the Reds from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of the Todd Frazier trade.He has been a leading candidate this spring for the starting left field job for the Reds. His recent struggles at the plate may weaken his position to win either the starting job or a platoon role in left field for the Reds to start the season.
Schebler faces his primary left field competition from Adam Duvall, who has strengthened his case for at least a platoon role in left field.
The Reds may also decide that Jake Cave and Yorman Rodriguez can spot start and backup left field for the Reds instead of Schebler. Cave has to make the opening day roster for the Reds as a Rule 5 draft pick or else he will be lost to the team. Rodriguez is out of options and would have to clear waivers to return to the Reds’ minor league system.
The Reds may decide that keeping Cave and Rodriguez is more important for now than sending Schebler to Triple-A.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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