Earlier this week, Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price had a tough conversation with young second baseman Jose Peraza. After catching fire late last season, the 23-year-old infielder had stagnated at the plate for all of 2017.
A more productive player was sitting on the bench and receiving periodic starts at second and in the corner outfield spots. In just 249 plate appearances, Scooter Gennett had surprised with a .307 average and 16 home runs, packing an unexpected wallop from the left side of the plate.
Price had held off on making a switch because he wanted to give Peraza every chance to develop, but now the manager feels the time has come.