The Reds are calling up one other of their prime prospects, as FanSided’s Robert Murray (by way of Twitter) studies that Christian Encarnacion-Strand is on his option to the majors. The membership might need to make a number of corresponding strikes earlier than Monday’s sport, as Encarnacion-Strand isn’t but on the 40-man roster.
A fourth-round decide for the Twins within the 2021 draft, “CES” has achieved nothing however mash since starting his professional profession, as he has a whopping .322/.386/.604 slash line and 56 homers over 946 profession plate appearances within the minors. This contains hitting .331/.405/.637 with 20 dwelling runs over 316 PA at Triple-A Louisville this 12 months, leaving little question that the 23-year-old is prepared for an even bigger problem.
It appears fairly doubtless that the Reds would’ve referred to as Encarnacion-Strand up earlier if it wasn’t for the truth that the workforce is already overloaded with high quality prospects. The additions of star rookies Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain have helped spark the Reds again into rivalry for the NL Central, whereas Spencer Steer (who made his MLB debut in 2022) has additionally been an enormous contributor.
With the likes of Jake Fraley, Will Benson, and TJ Friedl additionally producing, the Reds discover themselves with an fascinating determination to make with Encarnacion-Strand’s place. CES has performed nearly all of his profession as a nook infielder, with solely a pair of video games within the nook outfield spots. However, De La Cruz has been largely enjoying third base since his promotion, and longtime star Joey Votto remains to be within the common first base/DH combine since his return from the 60-day injured record. It’s say to foretell Encarnacion-Strand because the eventual successor to Votto, however the veteran has been on hearth on the plate.
It’s the proverbial “good drawback to have” for supervisor David Bell and Cincinnati’s entrance workplace, and it may very well be the problem might clear up itself within the type of an harm or a droop. Or, the Reds may merely rotate everybody by way of the lineup and make copious use of pinch-hitting alternatives or late-game substitutions in an effort to hold everybody (Votto particularly) recent. With the deadline approaching, it additionally isn’t out of the query that the Reds may create house by buying and selling certainly one of their younger prospects in a headline deal for a controllable, frontline beginning pitcher. On the very least, it looks like Cincinnati will look to maneuver veterans like Kevin Newman or Nick Senzel, whose enjoying time has been drastically lowered by the youth motion.
Encarnacion-Strand has made such a speedy stand up the minor league ladder that none of Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, or The Athletic’s Keith Legislation had the infielder on their preseason top-100 lists. He presently checks in 83rd on BA’s rating and 88th on Pipeline’s rating, with each retailers praising his pure energy and his arm energy. Questions on CES’ contact hitting appear to have been addressed in his Triple-A season, as his 10.4% stroll charge is definitely the best of his three professional seasons, and he has additionally lowered his strikeout charge to 21.8%. A barely extra affected person model of Encarnacion-Strand is a scary idea for pitchers, given his energy and talent to hit to the other area.
Cincinnati introduced Encarnacion-Strand and Steer into the group lower than a 12 months in the past, acquired together with southpaw prospect Steve Hajjar within the commerce that despatched Tyler Mahle to the Twins on the deadline. For the reason that Reds flipped Hajjar to the Guardians because the participant to be named later to accumulate Benson through the offseason, the Mahle commerce has in a short time turn out to be one of the productive swaps in current workforce historical past. For Minnesota, the commerce is already notorious, as Mahle battled accidents and made solely 9 begins for the Twins earlier than present process Tommy John surgical procedure in Might.
