Bold, competitive, and ready to prove themselves: that’s the core story of the Reds’ battle for bench spots this spring. In Goodyear, Arizona, a fresh round of discussions among the coaching staff has surfaced around a deep group of candidates vying for the final roster slots. Many of these players have shown they can be productive big leaguers at some point in the last couple of seasons, carrying tools and pedigrees that make them intriguing options. Others come with a track record of down years, offering the potential to rebound with the right adjustments and unlock their ceiling.
Hitting coach Chris Valaika has been watching closely. Terry Francona shared that Valaika has already spotted things he believes he can help with, but the players are also aware they’re competing. Valaika has candid conversations with them: we respect your competition, he says, but here’s what I’m seeing. How do you want to respond and adjust?
Two bench spots appear to be up for grabs. The starting nine feels about as settled as it can be before spring training kicks off. Francona has already touched on Will Benson’s role, which makes Benson look like a strong candidate to break with the team.
Given Francona’s plan to give TJ Friedl occasional days off, the Reds will need a right-handed backup center fielder on the roster. The standout options there are Dane Myers, Blake Dunn, and Rece Hinds (who can play all three outfield positions).
That leaves one spot for a left-handed pinch hit option or a true backup utility player. The list of candidates includes Nathaniel Lowe, JJ Bleday, CES, Michael Toglia (a switch-hitter), Tyler Callihan, Garrett Hampson, and Michael Chavis. The Reds could also decide to keep two players from the group of right-handed center-field candidates.
Myers, Lowe, Bleday, CES, and Toglia have all been proven big-league performers at various times in recent years. Dunn was on the Opening Day roster last year. Hinds has exciting upside yet to be fully realized. Francona also described Callihan as an interesting prospect.
“They’re solid names,” Francona said. “They’re legitimate players. Sometimes you bring in guys to fill out the spring roster. There are players here who can contribute. It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold.”
Let’s meet some of these players.
Nathaniel Lowe — First baseman, minor-league free agent signing. He posted a 94 OPS+ in 2025 (league average is 100) and has Silver Slugger (2022) and Gold Glove (2023) trophies to his name.
Lowe keeps his trophies in his office, though he jokes they’re gathering dust. “Collecting a few trophies is nice,” he says, “but the best of the best have many more. It’s a good way to stay motivated.” He aims high and treats 2025 as a down year despite progress against right-handed pitching; he believes there are parts he liked and parts that still need refinement.
Looking back, Lowe experienced a rough stretch in 2024 after being traded from the Rangers amid payroll-cutting chatter. He initially thought he’d form a first base–DH pairing with Jake Burger, but a week later reality hit when he was dealt away. In 2025 with the Nationals, he showed strong power against righties but struggled against lefties, a problem he used the winter to study and plan how to fix.
Even so, Lowe finished 2025 with notable power against right-handed pitching and felt confident in those matchups. The rebuilding Nationals released him in August to clear room for younger players, and the Red Sox added him down the stretch, where he posted a 121 OPS+ in the final two months. He insists the numbers aren’t everything and that helping a team push toward the postseason mattered more than his own stats.
My current projection places Lowe on the Reds’ 2026 roster. His seasoned depth at first base and his profile as a left-handed bat off the bench bring width to the roster. If an injury or other matchup forces movement, Lowe’s bat could slot into the lineup more often. In a right-handed pitching configuration, a lineup featuring Eugenio Suárez at third, Sal Stewart at first, and Lowe as DH could be among the Reds’ most potent against righties.
Lowe is ready to embrace a new role. “I’m excited for a new challenge,” he says. “If my job is to platoon against righties, then I’ll crush right-handers and take advantage of favorable left-on-left at-bats whenever I can.” He knows the power he brings won’t disappear in a non-everyday role; it’s about adapting to the opportunities that come.
Dane Myers — Acquired from the Marlins in December, center fielder. He posted a 71 OPS+ in 2025 but owns a career 0p 816 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
In college, Myers looked up to Michael Lorenzen, a rare two-way player who figured prominently in the Reds’ thinking at the time. Myers started as a pitcher before the Tigers drafted him in 2017; he shifted to hitting full-time in 2021. That background shapes how he plays now: a dynamic, athletic defender who thrives on making plays for his pitchers and bringing energy to the lineup. A source notes that Myers carries a strong edge, born from nearly facing the end of his career and fighting back.
Because of his defensive prowess and left-handed power, Myers is a strong fit as a fourth outfielder and is a candidate to be protected on the roster.
JJ Bleday — Corner outfielder, major-league free agent with minor-league options. He posted a 92 OPS+ in 2025, 121 OPS+ in 2024, and was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Bleday has been dialing in swing mechanics and strength training during the offseason, seeking a rebound in 2025. He believes a change of scenery can unlock his potential. He reflects on 2024 as a season where he was integral to the Athletics’ young core; 2025 was a tougher year, marred by a lack of hard contact and high strikeout rates.
After a midseason demotion to Triple-A and a successful return in August, he finished with stronger numbers. The Athletics non-tendered him, and the Reds signed him for $1.4 million. He has adjusted his load and is focusing on consistency as the core goal for 2026.
Blake Dunn — Prospect who made the 2025 Opening Day roster. He’s known for elite speed and the promise of power, though his MLB career has faced bumps.
Dunn started strong in 2025 but saw his production dip, including a May miscue on a bunt that led to a shift to Triple-A. He battled back in the second half with notable improvement, particularly after altering his stance and load to better harness his speed and keep the ball in play. He also worked with a mental performance coach to manage in-game emotions and stay focused during plate appearances and defensive moments.
Spring stats aside, Dunn is reportedly hitting the ball well in workouts and has drawn praise for his speed and potential to contribute on the bases. Francona emphasized that roles should be dictated by performance and the rhythm of the team, not preconceptions.
Rece Hinds — Outfield prospect who flashed as a Babe Ruth of sorts for the Reds in 2024. He showed elite power potential and strong defensive tools, though his MLB sample in 2025 was limited and mixed.
Hinds’ second-half surge in the Triple-A level reduced his strikeout rate and boosted his production. He’s focused on proving he can defend the outfield at a high level, nearly all of which Francona saw as a real area of strength. Hinds’ background includes a position switch and a persistent drive to refine his game. He acknowledges that adjusting from everyday Triple-A duty to inconsistent MLB action is a challenge and that consistency will be his main goal in spring.
The club’s evaluators see Hinds as a cornerstone for the future if he can prove his defense is elite and his bat can adapt to more limited playing time.
Michael Toglia — First baseman/outfielder, minor-league free agent. His 2025 season was a dramatic drop from 2024, with 61 OPS+ and -1.7 WAR, compared to 2024’s 102 OPS+, 2.2 WAR, and 25 homers. A former first-round pick in 2019, Toglia was once viewed as a central piece of Colorado’s youth movement.
Toglia describes 2025 as a tough, demoralizing year and says he learned a lot about how the league can adjust to him. The Rockies opened the season with a daunting stretch, and Toglia himself faced a brutal first two months. He pinpoints a failure to manage fastballs as a turning point—his 2024 performance had shown strength against fastballs, but in 2025 he overcorrected and exposed a hole in his swing.
With 2026 on the horizon, Toglia has reset his goals and mindset. His personal mission statement is to “dominate the day,” emphasizing consistent effort and enjoyment of the game. He’s also a chess enthusiast, which he says helps his strategic thinking at the plate and in the field.
Garrett Hampson — Utility player, minor-league free agent. His 2025 OPS+ stands at 20 across multiple teams, including a stint with the Reds, though he was an everyday contributor from 2019 to 2024.
Hampson signed with the Reds for a brief month last season, contributing little in games but leaving with a strong impression of the organization’s culture and competitiveness. He’s eager to return in 2026, confident in a winning clubhouse and the chance to contribute to a postseason push.
Michael Chavis — Utility infielder/outfielder, minor-league free agent. He spent time in Triple-A and Japan in 2025 and previously played in 357 MLB games. A former top-100 prospect, Chavis had meaningful major-league playing time from 2019 through 2022.
Chavis began 2025 with the Dodgers’ organization and performed well in Triple-A. He carried an opt-out clause that could have sent him to Japan, but an injury to Max Muncy created a window for a potential recall. When delays with his entertainment visa blocked a return to the Dodgers, Chavis found himself in a tricky situation, working out in Georgia and even at a Chuck E. Cheese with a pitching-machine setup while navigating the gap between teams and leagues.
He ultimately found his way to Japan, playing 50 games overseas, with a determined mindset to rejoin the big leagues for his 15-month-old daughter’s sake. He’s expressed a deep motivation to return to MLB and to capture a moment that could serve as a lasting memory for his family. In late winter, he had a strong offer from the Braves, but the Reds pursued him aggressively, making him a central part of their camp so he could chase a big-league roster spot.
In short, the Reds have assembled a diverse, talented group of players who each bring something unique to the table. The question is: who will emerge as the final pieces of the roster, and how will their varied paths and perspectives shape Cincinnati’s spring and beyond? The answer may hinge on adjustments, mindset, and a readiness to seize opportunity when it’s present—and on who handles the heavy task of providing depth with consistency when the season starts.
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