Nick Senzel returned Friday from a knee injury just in time to start at third base in the opener of a series against the reigning-champion Houston Astros and give rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz his first game off since he debuted on June 6.
Shortstop/center fielder Jose Barrero, who has been on the roster since Opening Day, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in the corresponding move.
Senzel was sidelined the minimum 10 days on the injured list after playing through soreness for about a week leading up to the move. He was hitting .258 with four home runs with the Reds at the time he went down with the injury.
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The bigger question is how much time he plays at third when De La Cruz returns from his breather. De La Cruz has toggled between third and shortstop since his debut, with rookie Matt McLain — who debuted May 15 — rotating between short, second and DH in that span.
Senzel is expected to see more time in the outfield.
After De La Cruz reached base four times and scored twice in a win over the Cardinals in St. Louis on Sunday, he was 8-for-22 (.364) with five walks, three extra-base hits and a 1.118 OPS in his first six games in the majors.
In three games in Kansas City since, he went 0-for-12 with five strikeouts and a walk (and still managed to steal two bases).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Nick Senzel back at 3B for Cincinnati Reds as Elly De La Cruz rests