Terry Francona didn’t officially announce Stuart Fairchild as part of the Cincinnati Reds’ 2025 Opening Day roster, but he certainly hinted at it. Discussing the ongoing roster battle between Fairchild, Blake Dunn, and Jacob Hurtubise, Francona’s comments provided an interesting, albeit predictable, insight.
“Fairchild, we’ve got him here to hit lefties, and you can’t always match that up in spring training,” Francona said on Saturday. While Fairchild has struggled this spring—posting a .135/.238/.189 slash line in 37 at-bats—Dunn and Hurtubise have both impressed, hitting over .300 in Cactus League action.
However, Fairchild’s role is clearly defined. If (and likely when) he makes the Opening Day roster, fans shouldn’t expect to see the 29-year-old at the plate unless he’s facing a left-handed pitcher. Last season, Fairchild hit just .152/.213/.293 against righties but performed significantly better against lefties with a .273/.350/.436 line. His continued presence in camp and likely inclusion on the roster are no coincidence.
With Fairchild seemingly locked in, the final roster spot appears to be a contest between Dunn and Hurtubise. Dunn likely holds the edge since he’s a right-handed hitter. Based on Francona’s remarks, it’s reasonable to expect an outfield of Dunn, Fairchild, and Austin Hays against left-handed pitching. Against righties, Dunn and Fairchild would likely give way to TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley.
Despite the concern over Fairchild’s struggles, Fraley hasn’t fared much better, slashing .154/.267/.231 in 16 spring games. But, like Fairchild, Fraley is a platoon outfielder who thrives against favorable matchups—his career OPS is over 250 points higher when facing right-handers.
Once Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson return from the injured list, the roster situation could change. Until then, Fairchild seems poised to secure a roster spot, even if his playing time remains situational.