Cincinnati Reds fans are already familiar with Sal Stewart — a top draft pick from three years ago who’s been rapidly climbing the minor league ladder and is a strong candidate for a big-league call-up this season. But there’s another rising star making just as much noise.
Héctor Rodríguez is putting together a standout season of his own. After slashing .298/.357/.481 at Double-A, the young outfielder has turned things up a notch since his promotion to Triple-A Louisville. He’s now hitting .372/.471/.535, all while showcasing elite plate discipline — walking as often as he strikes out.
Originally acquired from the New York Mets in a 2022 trade, Rodríguez might finally be the power-hitting outfielder Reds fans have long been hoping for. But his arrival could mean the end of the road in Cincinnati for Will Benson.
Héctor Rodríguez’s meteoric rise is threatening Will Benson’s spot on the Reds roster
Will Benson’s roster spot is already on shaky ground. While he filled in admirably in center field during TJ Friedl’s recent absence, his more natural fit is in a corner outfield role — a position that’s quickly becoming crowded. The Reds have started experimenting with Noelvi Marte in right field, further complicating Benson’s path to consistent playing time.
Manager Terry Francona has also shown a preference for using Jake Fraley over Benson in right, and it’s easy to see why. Despite Benson’s two-run homer in Friday’s 3-2 win over the Braves, his overall performance in July was rough. He hit just .183 with a dreadful 24 wRC+, and his plate discipline collapsed — he didn’t draw a single walk in 61 plate appearances all month.
With roster changes looming following the arrivals of Ke’Bryan Hayes, Zack Littell, and Miguel Andujar, Benson could be the odd man out. The Reds will need to make several moves ahead of Monday’s series in Chicago, and Benson may be headed back to Triple-A Louisville — possibly joining Héctor Rodríguez.
Rodríguez likely won’t bump Benson off the active roster just yet. Benson remains pre-arbitration eligible, under team control through 2029, and still has minor-league options — valuable traits for organizational depth. Still, if Rodríguez keeps swinging a hot bat and Benson can’t find his stride, the former Guardians prospect could slip further down the pecking order.
