The Reds announced Monday that they’ve optioned struggling outfielder Noelvi Marte to Triple-A Louisville. A corresponding move wasn’t announced, but FOX 19’s Charlie Goldsmith reports that Cincinnati is expected to recall outfielder Rece Hinds from Louisville in Marte’s place.
The 24-year-old Marte’s run with the Reds has been filled with peaks and valleys. The former top prospect came to Cincinnati as part of the blockbuster trade sending Luis Castillo to Seattle and burst onto the MLB scene with a .316/.366/.456 batting line in his first 123 plate appearances in 2023 — his age-21 season. He was popped for an 80-game PED ban the following spring and looked lost in his return to the majors later in the season, slashing just .210/.248/.301 in 242 turns at the plate.
Marte’s stock hit a low point after that 2024 campaign, and in 2025 he was moved from third base to right field to accommodate deadline pickup Ke’Bryan Hayes. Marte’s stock was trending down, but he took to right field nicely, posting solid defensive grades while rebounding at the plate. He appeared in 90 games — 56 of them in the outfield — and batted .263/.300/.448 with 14 homers and 10 steals. Defensive Runs Saved credited him as a strong defender on the grass (+4), while Statcast’s Outs Above Average (-2) was more bearish. Still, even a slightly negative mark for an infielder who learned the outfield on the fly — midseason, no less — suggested he had the potential to develop into a solid defender there.
Obscured a bit by that solid rebound effort in 2025, however, was a poor finish to the season. Marte floundered down the stretch with a .184/.214/.276 showing in his final 103 plate appearances of the season. He punched out 33 times (32%) against just four walks (3.9%).
Marte belted four homers in 56 plate appearances this spring, but he also continued on that worrisome K-BB trajectory from the end of the ’25 season. He walked just once this spring while fanning 16 times (28.6%). So far, his regular season output sits at just .138/.194/.138 with 10 strikeouts (32.3%) and two walks (6.5%) in 31 plate appearances. Marte has lacked any semblance of pitch recognition, chasing a staggering 47.4% of pitches he’s seen outside the strike zone this year. That’s sixth-worst among the 290 MLB hitters who’ve stepped into the batter’s box at least 30 times this year. His 71.5 mph average bat speed is down nearly two miles per hour from last year’s 73.3 mph.
If there’s a silver lining to Marte’s struggles, it’s that he won’t turn 25 until after the season ends and is still in the second of his three minor league option years. There’s ample time for him to right the ship and get back on track. Even combining his end-of-season slump, his rocky spring and his woeful start to 2026, we’re looking at a sample of fewer than 200 plate appearances. He made tons of hard contact during Cactus League play, and he’s still sporting a contact rate north of 90% on pitches within the strike zone. It stands to reason that if Marte can scale back his chase rate closer to the 33.7% he averaged from 2023-25, he could yet re-emerge as a quality hitter. That’d still be north of this year’s 29.5% league average, but not by an especially alarming measure.
From a service time vantage point, the demotion isn’t likely to impact Marte’s potential path to free agency. He entered the season needing only 33 days on the big league roster/injured list to reach two years of service. He’s already more than halfway there. He’ll very likely be back up this season, which would keep him on pace to hit the open market following the 2030 season (assuming he gets back on track and plays well enough to merit accruing six years of service, of course). It could cost him in arbitration, however. Marte was on a clear path to Super Two status, which would make him arbitration-eligible four times rather than the standard three, but if he spends a notable portion of time in the minors, he won’t reach Super Two designation after all.
In place of Marte, the Reds will apparently turn to the 25-year-old Hinds. He’s a career .191/.245/.506 hitter in 95 big league plate appearances. He’s been even more strikeout-prone in the majors (38.9%) than Marte has during his slump, but Hinds has enormous raw power and has gotten out to a big start in Louisville. He’s slashing .354/.475/.771 with five round-trippers in his first 61 cracks at the plate. More encouragingly, he’s walked a dozen times (19.7%) with a manageable 15 strikeouts (24.6%). Hinds chased more than 37% of pitches off the plate in Triple-A last year and nearly 40% in the majors. This year, he’s sitting on an improved 31.3% chase rate in Louisville.
Hinds wrecked Triple-A pitching last year, too (.302/.359/.563) and flashed potential 30-30 upside with 24 big flies and 21 steals in only 107 games. It seems unlikely that he’ll make enough contact to reach that ceiling, but his power is readily apparent and Statcast credited him with 98th percentile sprint speed in 2025. The power-speed combination is understandably alluring, and he’ll get another opportunity to show he can stick in the majors while Marte looks to get back on track down in Louisville.
Looking at the numbers overall looks like hinds has figured it out and may be on the cusp of a breakout…marte needs to play everyday and get out of his own way
I hope Hinds sticks this time… he has enormous talent
If he does, hopefully he Rece Hinds with the team.
I say, what a smashing pun!
Standing O!
So looking forward to Hinds getting this chance. I think she’s going to mash.
Past time. A couple more deserve to be demoted. Benson, Hayes and probably Steer as well. Hinds an Bleday have earned a chance with the Reds. Marte, Benson and Hayes have blown their chance for the time being.
Unfortunately the tight fisted patriarch will not pay Hayes to be in the minors. That trade never made sense with Stewart on the cusp. Benson is long past due, probably should have sent him down too and given someone else a chance to play.
I hope they actually let Hinds play every day this time instead of trying to platoon him with an undeserved Benson or something similar. He only gets experience with constant ABs.
The pitching staff needs to stop giving up so many walks too. That kills you in that ballpark.
On target. Let him and Bleday (at least against right handers for Bleday) play long enough to determine one way or the other if they are the answer. It is not like they have other alternatives right now. Maybe Hector Rodriguez down the road.
Probably definitely Rodriguez down the road, it’s just a matter of time and when they decide he’s ready.
For what it’s worth, they can’t option Hayes. He has more than five years of major league service time and thus can’t be sent down without his consent.
Can they just release him. I know they would be liable for the salary owed. Looks like the Pirates were much smarter than the Reds. I love good defense, but it can’t come with almost no offense.
Then they’ll be paying $25 million for two guys NOT to play third base. Brilliant! But better than living with a black hole there on offense, I guess.
They have certainly made some bad FA and trade moves. Some of them looked reasonably good at the time. Let’s hope Geno doesn’t turn into a pumpkin with age. Age is a hard thing to call in baseball. With one year of age(above 30) a player can go from the White House to the outhouse. It varies from player to player. It can happen during the off season. GMs have to make a tough call on something they can’t control but greatly impacts the financial status of the club. In addition to that, there is a higher risk of injury with aging.
Good lord, don’t say that on any of the Reds Facebook pages. Hayes is a generational talent according to them and he is just off to a slow start. haha
Timing can be leverage in trades. The Reds do not have the experience and guts to move anyone until its way too late. An experienced GM would have traded a young starting pitcher for some offense because they’d see the lack of a path any other way. Nick Krall is simply a yes man who agrees to work under the payroll constraints the Reds have. He has not been very good constructing a roster. Theres been a huge gaping holes in the roster every year he has had control of it. The Hayes move, Montas, Moustakas, and Candelario moves all would’ve gotten most guys fired. He will probably get an extension this year.
Marte was past due for a demotion. He quit trying at all.
Hayes has more than 5 years of service time. He can’t be optioned without the Reds losing him.
Bleday is a AAAA player. A platoon player in the majors at best. He offers nothing on defense either. No reason to call him up. We have seen what he does in the majors over the past 4 years.
If someone will take Hayes and assume the salary obligation, then put a ribbon him and say “sold”.
Hinds is tearing it up in the minors, he definitely deserves a shot at the big league level.
Marte’s numbers pre and post PED suspension are notably different.
Have to wonder if Seattle knew what was going on when they shipped him to Cincy.
Apparently there was a talking to in spring training about effort and he supposedly responded in the short term. You have to wonder if that continued.
Marte definitely seems lost at the plate. It remains to be seen if he takes the bull by the horns or sulks. You see one or the other usually.
He has been a major disappointment thus far. Why would anyone be stupid enough to take PEDs in the first place. You are going to get caught eventually.
I think the goal is to get paid before you get caught. There’s a disproportionately large percentage of PED users that hail from the DR. When looking to escape that level of poverty, it makes sense guys look for an edge.
JJ, you hit the nail on the head.
I htink a Benson /Bleday switchout would have been preferrable this early in the season. Bensonwith over 1060 MLPA is a .223 hitter with an OBP at about .300 and will soon be 28. Bleday is a veteran and more capable of performing as a part time OF vs RHP. Marte only has 31 PA. He looks lost but awful early in the season to be demoted. Hines has to play more than Marte did. Will that be in the cards?
Benson should have never made the major league roster. They fell in love with his spring training numbers. As soon as he got back to facing major league pitching, he reverted back to who he is. How many chances is this guy going to get?
It appears to be the case with McClain as well. He does draw a lot of walks. He was red hot in spring training, but has cooled off substantially since the regular season started. The only two Reds that are hitting are Stewart and De La Cruz. Steer’s bat may be waking up (small sample size). It is hard to win consistently with so little offense.
Thanks for Luis Castillo!
I have debated the lack of wisdom in that trade for years on this site. I won’t revisit that now.
At the time I was kinda upset at the return as a Mariners fan. Thought Marte was gonna be a stud and that Castillo would test free agency instead of signing the extension.
You cant lose when you trade with Nick Krall.
where exactly has all that pitching gotten you again? clock is ticking
Mariners have 2 playoff appearances and 4 straight winning seasons in the last 4 years. Reds have gone 17 games under .500
Yeah, I used to be a world series or bust guy but with 12 team playoffs it’s harder than ever to win one if you make it in the tournament. My goalposts are firmly set at winning division titles and going for a top 2 seed. Chips fall where they may after that.
That division title banner is pretty sweet.
Banner fly forever.
Thank you!!! Now play Rece Hinds everyday please.
Tito’s love fest for Benson lives on. There is no way in heck Marte(24) should have been splitting time with Benson(28). Benson has shown he is nothing more than a 5th outfielder. Can’t hit a breaking ball to save his life. Had one hit this year on something other than a fast ball. Marte and Hinds should have been getting every day starts from opening day but Tito is more interested in playing his veterans that haven’t hit in years and stuffing his mouth with gum.
What’s the status with Christian Encarnacion-Strand? Did any team put in a claim?
I believe they have seven days to claim or try to trade for him.
I like Tito but man was he mismanaging Marte. He’s got reverse splits and they kept sitting him against righty’s to get benson at bats who also isn’t hitting. Hopefully he gets right in aaa but I have a feeling hinds is here to stay this time.
I’m disappointed in Marte’s demotion but at the same time realize it had to be done. Our outfield situation has gone from bad to worse. Steer is a bad OFer and is only there because of our infield surplus. Friedl is just ok in center but doesn’t have the strong arm the position demands. Meyer is a defender but can’t hit RHPing. By bringing up Hinds is like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic. The time is way past to acquire a legit outfielder to stabilize this situation. Everyone went ga-ga over the Suarez signing. It was a needed bat but not at the position of need. It forced Steer to the OF which is by far his worst position.
I’m not in love with any player getting regular starts that can’t at the minimum be above the Mendoza Line, with that said Hayes gets a pass for me solely because of his excellent defense as for the outfield my gosh can anyone just be serviceable…all of them are playing like a 5th OF, not even a 4th…it’s early but let’s see Hinds, Bleday or HeRod
Looking like Seattle can claim a win on the trade for luis castillo. Noelvi looked promising but he will join the others involved in deal in minors.
Marte needed a trip down. Peds are still a question in my mind. Hayes stays at third for me if he hits 150/200/250. Someone can check me on this but I think he has close to double def runs saved or OAA over the last 4 years as the next closest guy at any position. Hinds has shown improvement, maybe this is his time.
My 2 cents
This is where we are as Reds fans; as long as he hits .150 we will be happy with his one or two plays a week that the other third basemen can’t get. The bar is at an alltime low. You absolutely cannot leave a guy who bats .150 in your lineup thats full of .220 hitters already lol. Third base isnt a premium defensive position like CF, SS, and Catcher.
I have not seen him make any play this year that another halfway decent fielder couldn’t make either. Guy is a complete black hole on offense and needs to be benched.
As long as Marte and Hinds do nothing except swing for the fence, the results will continue to be the same. Almost the exact same actually. The organization just cannot develop position players. One or two here and there but 99 percent more misses than hits.
You can send him back to Seattle where he was doing pretty good in the minors. Had a few down periods but nothing like this. We will give you half a tub of already chewed double bubble. A case of cooked crickets they aren’t great but not bad either. Pull off the feelers those were the worst. Get stuck between teeth just weird. We can you worn out balls 10 cases from our Aqua Sox team. Long A ball. Maybe a surprise to sweeten the deal.
I love 1910s offense that the Reds OF is providing. Cocaine was legal!!
Another lost project from the position players department, how many so far? I lost account ever since Jay Bruce came on board, with the only exception of EDLC and now Stewart.
Safe to say that Marte is falling be-Hinds.
Reds fans all over the internet arguing over which 5th outfielder to play while not mentioning Nick Krall and the roster he trotted out this year—despite having a half a billion dollar pitching staff making pennies on the dollar. They cannot fire him fast enough IMO. He is 100 percent the problem. Not part of it, he is all of it. Ownrship is who they are and there will be not be any changes there. There are GMs who field winning teams with similar resources.
We are a winning team……….so far anyways
With one of the worst run differentials in the game. Lets revisit your comment in a month when some dust has settled. Respectfully.
As a fan from afar, it has always appeared that Krall doesn’t know what he is doing. Baseball decisions that don’t make sense, like he doesn’t have a feel for the game. As if he was brought in from some other industry and is learning to GM baseball on the fly. Truly disconcerting.
Yeah, I wish I was wrong but it definitely doesn’t look like I am. Even the way he speaks makes you think he has no idea what he is doing. Hearing him explain that he “stole” KB Hayes from Pittsburgh is a favorite. His explanation for firing David Bell after he extended him twice is another.
You can’t even excuse his decisions as making do with the expired dairy queen coupons ownership gives him as a budget either. Rays, A’s, and Guardians all have found ways to be more competitive than not despite having next to no money to go out and get the good players. Also the Brewers have all but pretty much mastered this moneyball thing for the last 8 years too, because they make shrewd moves and know how to develop talent without breaking the bank. If the Reds were simply cheap yet competently run, they’d be in a much better position. If they were spending stupid money to mask their incompetence, they’d at least be exciting to watch. They are doing neither.
Should have been done a week ago. Regardless of his bobblehead. Having him and Hayes back to back was like 2 pitchers batting.
Marte can only hit in odd numbered years and Ke’Bryan Hayes can only hit on days that don’t end in “y”. At least they finally gave up on CES. I assume they give up on Will Benson any day now.