SARASOTA, Fla. — The answer to the who-is-the-Reds-shortstop-of-the-future question used to be easy. Pokey Reese held the title from almost the time the Reds drafted him in 1991.

        But Reese is gone, and the question about who is Barry Larkin's heir apparent isn't apparent at all.

        That is not to say that the Reds aren't deep at shortstop. Their depth at the position, in fact, is what muddies the situation.

        Will it be Gookie Dawkins? Ranier Olmedo? David Espinosa? Those are the shortstops in camp.

        “And you can add another name to that list,” said director of player development Tim Naehring. “Danny Mateo.”

        Mateo is an 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic. He gives the Reds four shortstop prospects under the age of 22 with big-league potential. Dawkins and Olmedo have been so good in early camp that both are in the running for a spot on the Reds this season.

        “They're going to play a lot,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “They've all developed more quickly then we expected.”

        Each made a spectacular play in Sunday's 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

        “They've had a chance to show us what they can do,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “They're going to get a lot of playing time. They give us a dimension we don't have — speed.”

        Larkin is signed through next season. One or more of the four prospects could be traded. One of them could be moved to second base.

        None of the four are the next Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter.

        “But they all can play shortstop in the big leagues,” said Naehring, a former major league shortstop.

        Who hits the most could determine who ultimately replaces Larkin.

        Dawkins, 22, was briefly with the Reds in 1999 and 2000. He also was on the Olympic gold medal-winning team in 2000.

        But 2001 was a disaster for Dawkins, the second-round draft choice in 1997. He played the whole year at Double-A Chattanooga and hit only .244. But a bad knee troubled him most of the season. He had surgery after the 2000 season, and re-injured it early in the 2001 season.

        “I saw Gookie in his tough times over the last year and a half,” Naehring said. “He struggled with the knee. But, at this spring training, the difference has been night and day. He really looks good.”

        Dawkins says he feels better, and is confident he'll be the next shortstop.

        “I have a lot of confidence in myself,” he said. “I think I'll be the next one at shortstop.”

        Olmedo, the 20-year-old from Venezuela, is just behind Dawkins in the race.

        “When we met with the major league people,” Naehring said, “I said, "the one player I want you to watch is Mr. Olmedo.'”

        Olmedo is so smooth, so quick in the field that you can't help but notice him.

        The play he made Sunday was Reese-like. Olmedo dived into the hole to field a smash off the bat of Boston's Doug Mirabelli, scrambled to his feet and made a strong throw to get Mirabelli by a step. Olmedo played at Mudville last year in the high A California League. He hit only .244 and made 40 errors. Naehring said you have to look beyond the numbers. “It was his first year as a switch-hitter,” Naehring said. “He was hitting .300 in June. He worked so hard he just wore himself out. He's playing in California, where it's hot, then he runs the stadium steps everyday with a 25-pound vest. He takes extra groundballs every day. He's the one guy we have to get after to dial it back.”

        Naehring has been trying to get Olmedo to play more consistently.

        “He's like a lot of Latin players who are so talented that they get bored,” Naehring said. “I'm on him all the time: "Ray, the routine plays have got to be outs.'”

        Olmedo opened eyes with a double and home run in the intrasquad game here. But the Reds were more pleased when he bunted for a base hit in each of the first two exhibition games. At 5-foot-11, 155 pounds, he's going to use his speed to be an effective offensive player.

        Espinosa, the first-round pick in 2000, is only five months younger than Olmedo. But last year was Espinosa's first in pro ball.

        “(Dawkins and Olmedo) aren't much older than me,” Espinosa said. “But they have a lot more experience.”

        Espinosa played at Single-A Dayton last year. He made 48 errors in 122 games, but 22 of those errors were in the first 30 games.

        “The question with him is, is his defense going to be good enough,” Bowden said. “With Olmedo and Dawkins, it's a matter of whether they're going to hit enough.”

        Espinosa thinks his defense will improve.

        "Last year was the first time I ever played in the cold,” he said, “the first time I ever played in front of that many people. I settled down after awhile.”

        Espinosa hit .262 with seven home runs and 37 RBI.

        “He gives you very professional at-bats for a young kid,” Naehring said. “He's going to hit at any level.”

        At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Espinosa is the biggest of the three players. He could develop into a prototypical leadoff hitter.

        The plan is to start Dawkins at Triple-A, Olmedo at Double-A, Espinosa at high Single-A Stockton and Mateo at low Single-A Dayton.

        But that could change, depending on what happens the rest of this spring.

Griffey back on the field Battle begins among future shortstops Reds 5, Red Sox 4 Reds notebook Baseball notebook

Cats tame Tigers to win conference
DAUGHERTY: Senior Day
UC notebook
Bengals call timeout during talks with Grbac
NFL combine notebook
Schools work for game night equity
Birds get Boone Co. again
Nine area girls teams set for regional play
Winton faces tough test
Preps schedule
A-10: At-large chances slim, St. Joseph's needs to win
Big 10: Illinois, MSU are on the move
C-USA: Pick UC and Logan, but be wary of Memphis
MAC: Kent State class of Mid-American field
SEC: Top seed is Alabama, but Mississippi St. is hot
Kansas 1st to go unbeaten in Big 12
Top 25 roundup
Women: UC advances; XU falls
Ducks win 4-3 in OT
NBA roundup
NHL roundup
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...