CINCINNATI -- The Reds did not activate Zack Cozart from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday, which meant at least one more game for Jose Peraza at shortstop and Scooter Gennett at second base. When Cozart returns to shortstop, Peraza will shift back to second base.
That doesn't mean Gennett's brief tenure as a regular member of the Reds' lineup is over, though.
"There's a lot of flexibility," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's proven, I think, we have to stay with the multi-positional theme to keep him in the lineup with regularity."
Besides his natural second base, Gennett has also played both corner outfield spots and third base this season for the Reds. Entering Thursday, Gennett was batting .366 (15-for-41) with five homers in the last 10 games, and his 12 homers on the season are two shy of his career high. He's batting .306 with 42 RBIs in just 180 at-bats.
"It's just going to mean we're going to have to mix and match a little bit," Price said. "I think I was able to do that fairly well the first couple of months. But you can't deny his impact on our ballclub and my desire certainly to have him in the lineup with some regularity. I just can't do it at one position. I feel like it's very important that we continue to develop Peraza as a second baseman and middle infielder, and I don't want to deprive him of that opportunity to develop."
Gennett, who was claimed off of waivers on March 28 from the Brewers to fill a utility role on the bench, was pleased to learn he would keep his playing time.
"Whenever you get in there, there's always an opportunity to improve, to show them what you can do," Gennett said. "That's all we try to do as ballplayers. I think I've been doing a pretty decent job of that recently. I think there's more room for improvement. The more you play, the more opportunities you have to show what you can do. I'm just willing to do whatever they ask. It's not up to me. All I can do is control my preparation, and ultimately the results will dictate if I'm working hard or not."
As for Peraza, Price acknowledged that he's had an up-and-down season, but he also pointed out that the 23-year-old now has a full body of work on his resume. In his first 152 Major League games, he hit .282/.311/.367 with 39 stolen bases.
"The league gets to know him a little bit, so he's got to compete with that. He's got to compete with the league knowledge of what he's handled well, what he hasn't handled well," Price said. "I'm not at all disappointed and I have not lost any confidence in his ability to be an outstanding player. I think he's going to be an impact player for us."