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Terry Francona’s simple message to Reds’ Edwin Arroyo ahead of MLB debut
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- Terry Francona’s simple message to Reds’ Edwin Arroyo ahead of MLB debut
Terry Francona's simple message to Reds' Edwin Arroyo ahead of MLB debut appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Cincinnati Reds will be welcoming a new face to the lineup on Monday night against the Kansas City Royals . Earlier in the day, the Reds placed Elly De La Cruz on the IL due to a hamstring strain . Replacing him in the lineup will be Edwin Arroyo .
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As Arroyo is set to make his MLB debut, he is sharing the advice he got from his manager , Terry Francona , per Brian Giesenschlag of Reds Live.
"He told me to be me," Arroyo said.
Arroyo will be playing second base in his major league debut and batting eighth for the Reds. Matt McLain will move to shortstop and bat ninth for the team.
Arroyo was the 48th overall selection of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners and was traded to the Reds organization in 2022. He has moved up the ranks, making it to the Triple-A level for the first time this season. In 53 games with the Louisville Bats, he hit .323 with a .383 on-base percentage. Further, he has hit 11 home runs, driven in 34 RBIs, all while stealing nine bases.
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He was once regarded as a top 100 prospect in baseball, but after a shoulder injury took most of his 2024 season, and then some struggled in 2025, he has had to re-gain that status. Arroyo has done just that, even playing in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico in 2026. The 22-year-old could also contend to stay at the major league level.
While normally a shortstop, Arroyo is playing second base tonight, where McLain has been. McLain is hitting just .196 this year with five home runs and 20 RBIS. Meanwhile, Ke'Bryan Hayes has struggled at third base for the team, hitting just .142 with a .195 on-base percentage. If Arroyo hits the ground running, he could be a replacement for one of those two when De La Cruz returns to the lineup.
Arroyo will make his MLB debut as the Reds begin a three-game set at home against the Royals on Monday night.
Related: Reds' Chase Burns scratched from start vs Royals with illness
Related: Reds lose Elly De La Cruz to IL due to hamstring strain
