What to Expect from Reds Infielder Edwin Arroyo

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What to Expect from Reds Infielder Edwin Arroyo

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Jun 1, 2026 6:08 PM ET

Cincinnati will welcome Edwin Arroyo to the big-league club on June 1. Arroyo was officially promoted to the Majors after Elly De La Cruz went on the IL, giving the switch-hitting infielder a shot to see if he can stick long-term after a great first two months with Louisville.

A Look at Arroyo

The Reds acquired Edwin Arroyo nearly four years ago in the trade that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle, and Arroyo, Noelvi Marte, and two others back to what was a rebuilding Cincinnati team. Arroyo was coming off a very good run in the Low-A California League, where he posted a .899 OPS with the Modesto Nuts.

Three years ago, Arroyo picked up 52 extra-base hits across two levels with the Reds’ farm system. That put the former second-rounder on a good trajectory until he missed the entire 2024 regular season on the IL. Things, though, didn’t go well in his return last season.

Arroyo hit a lot of balls on the ground and only hit three home runs last season for Double-A Chattanooga. But then, things changed for the young infielder this season in Triple-A Louisville.

Eleven home runs and 25 total extra-base hits over 53 games with the Bats. Eight of those home runs came in May, a month that saw him post a 1.086 ERA for the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate.

When things are going right, Arroyo looks like a regular infielder at the MLB level. Open stance, uppercut swing, and a power-speed combo that could make him a 20-20 player at the big-league level — especially in Cincinnati. The speed is another factor, as he picked up nine stolen bases this season.

There wasn’t much swing-and-miss down in Louisville for Arroyo, as we noted in our May farm report for the NL Central clubs. However, Arroyo’s long been an aggressive hitter.

Low-take-rate hitter in 2025 with Chattanooga, and this season, his Chase% was over 40% during that aforementioned May. And, as indicated in our May farm report, he hacked at everything and anything: fastballs, breaking balls, etc.

Analysis

The Reds placed Elly De La Cruz on the IL with a hamstring strain on June 1. Naturally, that opened up an opportunity for Arroyo, a natural shortstop, to garner a first look at the active roster.

Given how well he was going at Louisville and the fact that Arroyo was already on the 40-man roster, it was more likely than not that he was going to make it to Cincinnati. However, there is a lot on the line for the young infielder.

Arroyo does have some experience at second and third, both positions that are ones in flux for the Reds. Ke’Bryan Hayes hasn’t hit at all this season, although his value is largely derived from the glove. Matt McLain, meanwhile, is in the midst of another tough campaign.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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