Barrero out to prove he can stick in Majors

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Among the younger Reds players on the active roster, shortstop Jose Barrero might be the one with the most to prove as he tries to solidify his spot for the 2023 season.

Already a strong fielding shortstop when he was called up from Double-A during the shortened 2020 season, Barrero has yet to show he can hit in the big leagues. Since he was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 2, he is slashing only .165/.205/.231 with 56 strikeouts in 127 plate appearances over 34 games entering Wednesday.

Barrero’s struggles aren’t because of a lack of effort behind the scenes. He’s constantly working in the cage with hitting coaches Alan Zinter and Joel McKeithan, and they’ve had him revamp his batting stance and approach since he’s been back up. Following an 0-for-12 stretch, he notched three hits over two games at Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday and added another hit on Monday.

“Those adjustments have been really paying off,” Barrero said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I’ve been noticing I’ve been able to see the ball even better now.”

Making adjustments isn't easy to do while playing in the big leagues, but Barrero has taken the changes in stride.

“Really, it’s not too much of a change for me because you’re always trying to change stuff with your swing,” Barrero said. “You just have to dedicate time into doing that work and preparing yourself well enough. It’s just normal for me.”

Barrero is only 24, which normally means he should still have time to develop as a hitter. But shortstop depth is strong in the Reds’ system, with the likes of No. 1 prospect Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain (No. 5) and Noelvi Marte (No. 2) among those working their way up.

“I really feel like he’s looking better at the plate, getting more comfortable, especially the last two or three games,” Reds manager David Bell said of Barrero. “He’s working so hard and all the things he’s adjusting to, I felt like they’re really coming together for him the last couple of days.”

To stay in the big leagues, Barrero will have to show he can sustain success as a hitter. In a sign of how elusive that’s been, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Pirates in Game 1 of a doubleheader.