Schumaker is one of those. He can play second base and all three outfield positions. And he gives manager Bryan Price a strong pinch-hitting bt from the left side.
Kristopher Negron is another. He can play second base, third base, shortstop and left field. He was a pleasant surprise when called up in the middle of last season from Class AAA Lousville, providing some punch off the bench from the right side.
The third ‘for-sure’ extra player is catcher/first baseman Brayan Pena, a strong back-up to cather Devin Mesoraco, a shockingly good replacement for Joey Votto at first base last season. And Pena carries a switch-hitter bat to the table.
That leaves two or three bench positions open, depending upon whether the team decides to go with 11 or 12 pitchers.
The candidates are young Donald Lutz, a corner outfielder who can play first base and bats left handed, Brennan Boesch, a left hander who has shown considerable power in the minor leagues, career minor-league outfielder Jason Bourgeois, a right hander and young outfield prospect Yorman Rodriguez.
There are no pre-conceived notions about that fringe contenders and exhibition games, for the most part, will decide their fates.
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