The Reds optioned first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and starter Chase Petty this morning. Both players entered camp as long shots to make the Opening Day roster after struggling in limited looks in 2025.
Encarnacion-Strand was Cincinnati’s season-opening first baseman in each of the last two years. He had impressed with a .270/.328/.477 line over 63 games as a rookie in 2023. He hasn’t built off that production. The righty hitter limped to a .199/.227/.337 showing while striking out more than a quarter of the time in 65 games between 2024-25. Encarnacion-Strand’s ’24 campaign was cut short by a wrist fracture that required surgery. He missed time last season with a back injury and spent the second half in Triple-A.
The 26-year-old had a solid but unexceptional minor league campaign. He hit .246/.309/.492 with 11 longballs and a 25.1% strikeout rate in 64 games. He’d gotten into six games this spring, going 5-15 with a pair of doubles.
The Reds are expected to give rookie Sal Stewart the starting job at first base, where Eugenio Suárez should get some work along with his primary DH job. Nathaniel Lowe and Michael Toglia are both in camp on minor league deals.
There’s probably one bench bat role available between the non-roster invites and outfielder Will Benson, who is on the 40-man roster. Benson has popped three homers with four walks and strikeouts apiece through his first 24 spring plate appearances. Lowe has a couple longballs but is batting .200 in 22 trips to the plate. Toglia entered camp as the longest shot of the group and has fanned in four of his 11 plate appearances.
Petty is a former first-round pick who made his first three major league outings last year. He was blitzed for 14 runs in six innings. Petty tossed four scoreless innings this spring, striking out and walking two batters. He’ll head back to Triple-A Louisville, where he gave up a 6.39 ERA across 112 2/3 innings.
Hunter Greene looks likely to open the season on the injured list after feeling elbow stiffness last week. Manager Terry Francona announced yesterday that Andrew Abbott will step in for his first career Opening Day start in Greene’s place. Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo slot into the middle of the staff.
Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder seem the frontrunners for the final two spots, with lefty Brandon Williamson representing the top alternative. Williamson and Lowder both missed all of last season. Lowder has punched out seven over five innings of one-run ball in camp. Williamson has six strikeouts in four frames, allowing two runs on three hits.
two ex twins farm hands
Man, Strand was supposed to be the beesknees. I’d still take a flyer on him as another team if they were willing to trade him.
Salzilla. Me too. When he trained in AZ years ago, CES trained at one time with a relative of mine who described him as a “super kid” both on and off the field. He has talent as a hitter and if the Reds were inclined to deal him, I still want him especially now with his trade value being an all time low.
Somehow, this will be the large-market teams’ fault…
Dodgers are ruining baseball!
The system is ruining baseball
You said the thing!
I overheard Petty say don’t do me like that
bravo 🙌
The Reds said don’t come around here no more.
No big surprise being optioned in either case. Both have a lot to work on to get back.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Williamson make it too, but not necessarily as the fifth starter, but rather the role Martinez filled last year as long man/spot starter.
I remember Edwin Encarnacion. Wonder why he has two last names? Isaiah Kiner-Falafel and Pete Crow-Armstrong too.
And lest we forget King Charles Mountbatten-Windsor, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Olivia Newton-John, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr – he decided on other name.
He probably has two last names bc he has two parents 😉
Mwrherm, were you just dropped on our earth?
Toglia was already cut/reassigned to minors a week ago. It looks like it’s down to Benson or Lowe for the last spot, barring an injury, though Rece Hinds is still in camp and has been raking (and an outside chance that Noelvi Marte gets optioned, as he seems to be back to his old lackadaisical ways, and we know Tito doesn’t take no ****).
Noelvi is not getting optioned before Opening Day
Probably not, I called it an “outside chance”, but it’s definitely under consideration: cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2026/03/12/te…
They just need to cut bait with Benson. Quit running out the same retreads year after year.
These guys will be stars on a real team. Sad!
What “real team”? It is a testimont that the Reds have some depth and have othe ootions.
I hated when the Guardians gave up Will Benson for an absolute nobody. He is fast, a good fielder and can hit RHP.
CES would be good trade bait for a much-needed bullpen arm. Looks like no room in the inn for CES in Cincinnati. Phillies are looking for a RH outfielder. Maybe CES even up for Orion Kerkering (RH-RP)?
A player with zero trade value is never good trade bait.
Agreed. Best move is keep him and let him develop further. CES’ problem is staying healthy long enough to achieve consistency. When he misses huge chunks of time he doesn’t get the reps.
IMO it’s early to give up on CES. Trading players when their value is down isn’t a winning formula. CES’s downfall is chasing breaking pitches out of the zone. Maybe he figures that out at Louisville and can contribute at some point.
I think it’s time to move on. Doubtful that it’ll be much, but I feel like he’s taking up playing time for some of the big dogs coming up in the org.