Patience With Edwin Arroyo: The Reds Should Give the Young Switch-Hitter Real Runway

Reds fans, it's easy to look at Edwin Arroyo's first big league numbers and wince. Look at what he did in Louisville before you write him off.

Our Take: Arroyo deserves real runway. A 23-year-old switch-hitter who mashed in Triple-A is worth more patience than one rough stretch in the majors.

Here's what we know. Red Reporter's Wick Terrell lays out the split. In 160 plate appearances with the Reds in 2026, Arroyo hit .223/.266/.264. In 354 plate appearances at Triple-A Louisville, he hit .301/.367/.524 with 15 home runs. Terrell also points out he hit .323/.383/.562 through the end of May before cooling off.

Arroyo came over in the 2022 trade that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle, the same deal that brought Noelvi Marte. His MiLB transaction log shows the Reds recalled him from Louisville on Sept. 28.

Red Reporter frames his future against the paths of Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, and that's the right lens. Young hitters don't always arrive in a straight line.

What to watch: how the Reds handle the middle infield this winter, and whether Arroyo gets a fair shot in spring to show the Louisville bat is real.

Sources: Red Reporter, MiLB.com