The Reds placed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list yesterday, while also activating third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the 10-day IL. Suarez returns after missing a month due to an oblique strain, while Hayes (whose placement is retroactive to May 21) is dealing with a lumbar bulging disc.
Back problems have been a recurring issue for Hayes over the years, and Cincinnati manager Terry Francona told The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans and other reporters that Hayes has been bothered by a bad back at various points this season. “I think the spasming has gotten to the point where it’s kind of getting in the way,” Francona said, so the decision was made to let Hayes fully recover during an IL stint.
Beyond just getting healthy, Francona suggested that Hayes’ rehab process will include a stint working on his offensive mechanics at the Reds’ Spring Training facility in Arizona. The Reds were hoping that Hayes might find some untapped hitting potential after he was acquired from the Pirates at last year’s trade deadline, but whatever changes Hayes has made with his new team haven’t worked. Never known for his offense even at the best of times, Hayes’ bat has completely cratered this year, as he has hit only .142/.195/.225 over 128 plate appearances.
While Hayes remains one of baseball’s top defensive third basemen, excellent glovework only goes so far when a player has a 12 wRC+ — the lowest of any player in baseball with at least 120 PA. Sal Stewart had already started to receive some starts at third base even before Hayes went on the IL, and Stewart will likely get the majority of time at the hot corner while Suarez may make the odd start but is more likely to again factor heavily in the DH mix.
Cincinnati’s struggling offense will naturally get a boost from inserting Suarez in Hayes’ place, even if Suarez himself has yet to get going in 2026. After signing a one-year, $15MM free agent deal this past winter, Suarez’s encore in a Reds uniform has thus far resulted in three homers and a .231/.300/.363 slash line over an even 100 PA before the oblique strain sent the veteran to the injured list.
Hayes hits like a pitcher
His fielding just isn’t enough to have an easy out in the lineup. When Hayes comes back he will be nothing more than a fielding bench player and pinch runner
Shohei disagrees
What were the Reds thinking when they acquired him?
Thought they could improve him and so far they have. Bad back is risky though.
Hayes having one of his better years. Would think with name datashark you would realize this.
Higgest hr rate since 2023. Lowest K rate by far his entire career. Higgest walk rate since 2022. Higgest average exit velocity since 2023. Higgest line drive rate by far since 2020. Lowest ground ball rate by far his entire career.
Hayes has been extremely and let’s add another extremely unlucky. Doesn’t need to work on his hitting. Just needs more playing time for it to work out.
Edwin Arroyo should be called up and then they need to launch Hayes into the sun
Mike Moustakas, Jeimer Candelario, now possibly Ke’Bryan Hayes. Crazy string of dead money contracts at 3B.
Anthony Rendon might still be available.
he can become their director of vacation time
Time to give Arroyo a shot..triple a pitching doesnt appear to challenge him
It did not challenge Rece Hinds or CES
Nor Sal Stewart or Elly
Right so time to see if you have another rece hinds ces or Stewart since this team cant score consistently unless they want to trade for someone proven
Trade for someone proven? What a concept but one that Krall and where-you-gonna-go guy don’t believe in.
Arroyo should be called at once to play 2nd base and leadoff hitter.
At this point, McLain is close to a AAA wake up call and Benson close to DFA.
Hayes would probably make a great coach
and he’d probably be a great friend too..
Are you okay Leslie?
Ben Cherington got rid of the entire KeBryan Hayes contract to a division rival. Never mind that he practically deserves a bronze statue outside PNC Park for that feat alone. I just want to know how he managed to get through those negotiations without asking his Refs counterpart “Ok, so I just want to be sure… you’re going to take on the Hayes contract? The whole thing? REALLY??? You’re sure, right? No givebacks? Ooo-kay then, it’s a deal!!!”
Krall has got fleeced on several trades, this one, the Lux one when they acquired him and the Benson one are the big ones in particular.
They gave up nothing for Benson… which is good because that’s what he’s worth
How about Yanks and Reds swap McMahon for Hayes? Perhaps a change of scenery might do the trick.
He cant play anymore, my friend. Watch him at the plate, he is broken. And 30. And declining for several seasons. And owed over 32 million guaranteed.
The change of scenery for Hayes is the Mexican league.
I truly think Hayes’s back is such a real concern that I…
1) Wonder how he passed the physically when the Reds traded for him
2) Wonder how many All-Star games he’d played in had he never had the issue. Honestly, before the issues even at league average at hitting his glove game him a huge surplus value player.
His bad back was famous in Pittsburgh. All reds had to do was Google his name.
I must have said a dozen times no jelly Hayes is toast. Hayes told media that the jelly stuff that’s supposed to be between the disc is gone. I’m not a doctor but that sounds like bad news.
Look at how good he was in June 2023 through the end of that season. He really was figuring it out, then his back just completley fell apart.
I still don’t understand why they can’t bring up Arroyo have him play 3rd base and move Steer to the outfield. Then play Stewart at first base, have Suarez at DH and move Benson to the bench or better yet Triple A. Sounds like a solid plan to me!
Arroyo has barely ever played any 3B in the minors. Swapping him for McLain at 2B seems much more likely.
Especially when Stewart and Suarez play third and lowe can play first
He is Uber athletic and can play 3rd, SS, or 2nd base, my point is, just call the man up, YESTERDAY!!