Jake Cave would have made for an intriguing fourth outfielder option for the Cincinnati Reds this season. The Reds’ Rule 5 pick fared well in spring training and showed his versatility by playing left and center field.
The Rule 5 choice of Cave looked like a good decision by a Reds’ front office that had fumbled its way through the offseason with a pitiful trade return for All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier and the botched timing of the Aroldis Chapman trade.
Cave hit .255 in 55 at-bats with a .349 on-base percentage in the Cactus League for the Reds. The time and resources invested in playing Cave were then wasted by the Reds when the team decided to waive Cave in favor of outfielders who could be optioned in Tyler Holt and Scott Schebler.
Cave was returned to the New York Yankees before the start of the regular season. He has spent time between Double-A and Triple-A this year and is enjoying an outstanding season thus far. In 172 plate appearances, Cave has a .302/.349 slash with a .902 OPS. He has turned into an extra-base machine, hitting 13 doubles, six triples and five homers.
The Yankees are playing Cave primarily as a left fielder this year in the minors. He has made 35 of his 40 starts in left with the other five in center.
The left-handed hitting Cave would have made an excellent left-handed bat off the bench for the Reds in addition to providing depth in left and center as a fourth outfielder option. The upside of the 23-year-old Cave is higher than that of the 27-year-old Holt who ultimately made the Reds’ 25-man roster instead of Cave.
Right now, the Reds have one left-handed bat available to them off the bench in backup switch-hitting catcher Ramon Cabrera. Cave had the ability to impact the Reds’ offense, but the Reds’ front office squandered the chance to find out what he could do.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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