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.
