GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Often at Reds Spring Training, the clubhouse is at capacity, with each locker occupied. And sometimes, extra lockers are necessary to accommodate a larger camp.
Larger camps usually equate to more jobs up for grabs.
Not this year for Cincinnati, which has 57 players in camp, and not many roster spots are viewed as wide open for competition. It's even possible that none of the non-roster invitees break camp with the club, which would also be a rarity.
There are still battles to keep track of, however. With the first Cactus League game of 2026 vs. the Guardians set for 3:05 p.m. ET Saturday on MLB.TV (free to watch), here are the ones that warrant your added attention:
The fifth spot in the rotation
Contenders: Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar, Brandon Williamson
Right out of the gate, the first three contenders are scheduled to appear in Saturday's game. Burns is slated to start, with Lowder (baseball's No. 86 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and Aguiar (the Reds' No. 16 prospect) coming out of the bullpen. There was no rhyme or reason to the order, especially since the inning count will be low early on.
"We tell the guys early on, ‘Hey, in your bullpens and your throwing program, do it right, so when the games start, you can show what you can do.’ Saying that, it’s still the first game for everybody, and it’s February," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "But when you’re watching something, it’s hard not to watch it and digest it.”
It's hard to tell at this stage who has the inside track for the final rotation spot behind locks Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer. Burns pitched last season, his first in pro ball, while the other three missed 2025 with injuries. All four pitchers have looked strong in camp.
With more days off in the schedule during the first month of the regular season, a six-man rotation is not on the table.
Last two spots in the bullpen
Contenders: Connor Phillips, Sam Moll, Luis Mey, Zach Maxwell, Lyon Richardson (NRI), Tejay Antone (NRI)
Assuming an eight-man bullpen, six spots are spoken for, with closer Emilio Pagán, Tony Santillian, Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson and two lefties in Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke. Based on his final six weeks after returning from Triple-A Louisville, Phillips has an excellent shot to lock in his place with a good spring.
Then there's that last spot. Mey and Maxwell (Reds' No. 23 prospect) have big arms and big velocity, but they were sometimes prone to command issues after debuting last season. Back as a non-roster invitee, Richardson was on the shuttle back and forth from Louisville multiple times last season. Antone, who made the roster out of camp in 2024, is another NRI attempting a comeback from a third ulnar collateral ligament surgery in his right elbow, but he has been good when he's healthy. Moll, who had a down year in '25 and finished at Louisville, would give Francona a coveted third lefty.
First base
Contenders: Sal Stewart, Nathaniel Lowe (NRI), Christian Encarnacion-Strand
Stewart, the No. 22 prospect in baseball and tops in the organization, made a debut splash in September and led the club with five home runs in the final month. While the club isn't giving him the spot, it certainly appears to be his job to lose. But Stewart could get pushed by the veteran Lowe, a 2022 AL Silver Slugger and '23 AL Gold Glove winner who agreed to a Minor League deal on Saturday and is a non-roster invitee.
Encarnacion-Strand has been slowed by a sore hamstring and might not appear in the early games. He opened with the club last season but often struggled and spent the entire second half with Louisville. Other players will rotate to play there, namely Spencer Steer and Eugenio Suárez.
The bench
Contenders: Will Benson, JJ Bleday, Dane Myers, Blake Dunn, Rece Hinds, Lowe (NRI), Garrett Hampson (NRI), Michael Toglia (NRI)
Catcher Jose Trevino is locked in, which leaves three spots. There will often be starting players able to backup at a different position. Second baseman Matt McLain can fill in at shortstop for Elly De La Cruz, and Steer will likely get most of his time in left field but spell McLain at second base or finish games at first base. That could mean three outfielders on the bench in Benson, Bleday and Myers. Lowe could be an enticing lefty bat off the bench for Francona. So could having a true backup infielder.
Other things to watch
Francona hasn't named an Opening Day starter yet, and he's contemplating who will bat second in the lineup. And of course, everyone involved at camp will be hoping for good health throughout.