GOODYEAR, Ariz. — What should have been a routine pickoff attempt turned into a nightmare for Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo.
During a March 13, 2024 game against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, Arroyo was leading off first base when the pickoff throw came. He dove back to the bag, extending his left arm, but ended up injuring his shoulder and was unable to get up.
“I thought I’d be back in two weeks, but the MRI told me otherwise. I had to deal with it,” said the 21-year-old Arroyo, who is ranked No. 92 in MLB Pipeline’s 2025 rankings.
Arroyo’s MRI revealed a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and the surgery that followed kept him out for the entire 2024 season.
The original plan for Arroyo was to start the 2024 season with Double-A Chattanooga and see where things went. In 2023, he posted a .252 batting average with a .757 OPS, 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases over 123 games with High-A Dayton and Chattanooga.
Instead, the unexpected injury derailed Arroyo’s development for an entire season.
“Maybe I could’ve reached the big leagues, maybe not,” he said. “But either way, I’m ready now. Hopefully it happens soon.”
Arroyo spent much of his rehab time at the Goodyear complex, with plenty of time to reflect and recover.
“I couldn’t do anything,” he shared. “It wasn’t easy. Mentally, it was tough. My family was far away, I was hurt, and I was stuck here the whole year. … But it made me mentally stronger. I’ll be ready for whatever comes next.”
Throughout his recovery, Arroyo worked closely with Matt McLain, who also underwent left shoulder surgery during Spring Training and missed the entire season. Both players eventually regained their health and were able to participate in the Arizona Fall League.
In 18 games and 81 plate appearances, Arroyo posted a .253 batting average and a .642 OPS.
“He checked all the boxes in the Fall League, whether it was for him or for us — the main thing being his health,” said Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell. “He made all the plays—diving, sliding—he’s healthy and ready to go.”
Arroyo reflected on his recovery, saying, “I was just happy to be playing again. I’ll admit, I was a little worn out by the Fall League. But even with that, I was able to play, and that was a positive. Now, I’m ready to go with a lot of energy.”
Due in part to his standout defense at shortstop, Arroyo was one of the key prospects the Reds targeted when they traded for four players from the Mariners in the July 29, 2022 deal that sent ace Luis Castillo to Seattle. In addition to Arroyo, Cincinnati received third baseman Noelvi Marte and pitchers Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore.
This spring marks Arroyo’s second big league camp, and it’s a bit of a repeat from last year. He’s soaking in the experience, typically getting into Cactus League games as a substitute, while preparing to start the 2025 season at Chattanooga.
Reds manager Terry Francona has taken notice of Arroyo’s defensive prowess, remarking that he doesn’t appear to have missed an entire year of play. His defensive skills have been exactly as advertised.
“He looks like someone who is extremely comfortable as a defender,” Francona said. “If I could catch the ball like that, I’d feel comfortable too. He has the actions of a really good defender. As for his hitting, he hasn’t had many at-bats in a year. But he’s a really fun kid to watch… You can’t replace 500 at-bats. Those are critical for young players.”
One lingering question surrounding Arroyo’s development since the Reds acquired him has been where he fits into the team’s future plans. With Elly De La Cruz already entrenched at shortstop, Cincinnati has been firm about not considering a move for their rising star to the outfield. De La Cruz can also play third base, though he hasn’t appeared there since his rookie season in 2023.
“Elly always asks, ‘When are you getting here?’ and I just tell him, ‘Bro, we play the same position,’” Arroyo said, laughing. “But it’ll be great if we end up playing on the same team. They’ll figure it out. I can only control what I can right now.”
Arroyo is confident about his future, adding, “I feel like this is going to be the year. I just need to keep playing and doing my best. Hopefully, I can get there soon.”
