The Reds’ youth movement is well underway in 2023, and it seems more reinforcements are on the way to Cincinnati.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Reds are set to promote top infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand to their major league roster on Monday ahead of their clash with the Giants.
Per MLB Pipeline, Encarnacion-Strand ranks as the organization’s No. 5 prospect. Across the entire league, the 23-year-old is heralded as the No. 88 prospect in baseball.
He’ll join the likes of Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain in Cincinnati, both of whom were promoted to the Reds and have made instant contributions to the Reds’s surprisingly promising season.
Encarnacion-Strand joins the Reds while the team is in a bit of a skid, however. The team has lost four games in a row and five of its last six, all of which came against the rival Brewers, who overtook Cincinnati for the NL Central lead during that stretch.
The offense has cooled down since the All-Star break, so they’re hoping the young infielder can help in that regard.
Encarnacion-Strand has spent the entire minor-league season at the Triple-A level, playing for the Reds’ affiliates, the Louisville Bats. Across 67 games, he’s enjoyed a terrific season at the plate, slashing .331/.405/.637 with 20 home runs, 62 RBI, and 21 doubles.
Encarnacion Strand was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 MLB draft by the Twins. He was acquired by the Reds as part of the Tyler Mahle trade with Minnesota last season.
