Training for spring is ended. In order to get ready for Opening Day on Thursday, when they will meet the Washington Nationals (who have a team full of former Reds), the Cincinnati Reds boarded an aircraft last night and traveled to Cincinnati.

When the Reds left Arizona, there were only twenty-five guys remaining in big league camp. They must have 26 players on the squad. They are now down one short. Here are the players who seem to have made the roster (trades and other acquisitions could change this; for example, Todd Frazier was once on the opening day roster as the team left Arizona, but he was sent to the minor leagues prior to the start of the season due to a waiver claim).

The Rotation

This group appears to be well-built. Here, too, there are benefits. However, because there are still certain unanswered questions for each person, it’s unclear exactly how good this rotation can be. Everyone’s resume is a little bit cloudy, whether it be because of Montas’ health, Greene and Ashcraft’s inconsistent play, Abbott’s second season following some late-season struggles, or Martinez’s lack of consistency since 2017. Add to that the uncertainty around Brandon Williamson’s shoulder and Nick Lodolo’s leg health concerns, and you have reasons to be both optimistic and pessimistic about the starting pitching.

The Bullpen

There are several known players in the bullpen. The closer’s double-digit ERA and the fact that he gave up one fewer home run in a few innings in Arizona than he did in all of 2023 may worry you if you place a lot of weight on spring training stats. Similarly, among this group, only Lucas Sims had an ERA below 4.00 throughout spring training.

Of course, by now, everyone should be aware of the lack of significance of spring training figures. Guys going out and working on specific things without the expressed idea of “winning this particular at-bat,” the extremely variable nature of the competition they face, and the fact that the breaking ball in Arizona doesn’t break quite like it does in other places make for a lack of information that is worth relying on and extrapolating. The majority of these men can be trusted because of some kind of history. The team ought to be strong.

The Infield

Stephenson TylerLuke MaileJeimer CandelarioElly CruzEncarnacion-Strand, ChristianEspinal, SantiagoIndia’s Jonathan

This list is missing one quite significant name: Matt McLain. We should be aware of the extent of his potential absence this year as he is seeking a second opinion regarding his shoulder. But there will be some questions till we find out the solution to that. Additionally, shoulder problems could not go away even if he does make a comeback this season. There will be some ambiguity here until he returns to the field and performs.

And there’s also the whole Noelvi Marte controversy. After serving an 80-game PED sentence, he will miss the first half of the season.

There are a lot of uncertainties, but there are also a lot of opportunities with the individuals who will be in the club. Elly De La Cruz has the potential to be an MVP, but there are questions about how much contact he can really make and how it has affected his inconsistent big league career thus far. A little over half of the season had passed for Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Over the past two seasons, Jonathan India has struggled with injuries, which has resulted in subpar play in the field and at the plate. After being acquired by the Cubs at the trade deadline last season, Jeimer Candelario witnessed a decline in his performance from his stint with the Nationals in the first half of the season. He had a strong 2023, but he also had a dreadful 2022.

Tyler Stephenson, a catcher who like to bat first and is coming off of his worst season at the plate, is the man behind the plate. Then there is Luke Maile, a catcher who prioritizes his glove over his bat and has never really hit much in his career.

The possibilities are endless if this group performs to the best of their abilities. However, there are some questions that will apply to everyone and require an answer.

The Outfield

TJ Friedl’s wrist break is a major loss. Not only is he a quality player, but at this moment in time he’s the only legitimate center fielder on the team. Will Benson has seen some time in center field for the Reds this spring, and Stuart Fairchild has played center field in both the major and minor leagues, but neither player fits the mold of a center fielder who can play every day.

The only other individual in this group who is a regular player, or has been in the past, is Spencer Steer. Last season, Cincinnati had platoon players in Will Benson and Jake Fraley. Fairchild has spent the better part of three big league seasons as a backup, and Nick Martini did not receive 100 at-bats in the major leagues last season.

The team will probably consider adding someone to the roster here. It remains to be seen if the team makes a trade or selects someone off the waiver wire, or if that comes from someone already in the organization.