3 Reds who’ll live up to 2026 hype and 2 who could flop hard

Cincinnati Reds fans have lofty expectations for their favorite team heading into the upcoming season. Reds manager Terry Francona echoed those sentiments with his team at the outset of spring training. "I've told our players -- it's time," Francona said.

The Reds front office made some meaningful roster additions, and the ownership group even green lit some extra spending in order to bring Eugenio Suárez into the fold. After watching the Reds making back to the MLB Postseason for the first time in full season since 2013, the Cincinnati faithful have their hearts set on seeing the team return to play baseball in October this fall.

In order to get back to the playoffs, however, some of the team's most highly talked-about players will have to live up to the hype. Which three Reds players will make good on the fanfare they've received this spring, and who might fall short of fans' elevated aspirations?

3 Reds who’ll live up to the hype in 2026

Sal Stewart, Reds infielder

Sal Stewart had a cup of coffee in the big leagues last season, but showed that his Minor League numbers were not a mirage. The Reds top prospect will be looking to make his mark in 2026 and already has his eyes fixed on the NL Rookie of the Year trophy.

Stewart is likely to break camp with the big-league ball club and should be part of the Reds lineup — most likely at first base. If his glove sticks at the cold corner, he'll be near the top of Francona's lineup card almost every night. Stewart posted a 124 wRC+ in just 18 games last season and Reds fans are hoping for more of the same during a full rookie season.

Chase Burns, Reds pitcher

Chase Burns appears to have the inside track for the fifth and final spot in the Reds starting rotation heading into Opening Day. The fireball had his fair share of magical moments during his rookie campaign last season, and in 2026, Burns will be looking to prove that he's one of the best young hurlers in the game.

Burns appeared in just 13 games last season, including eight starts. He was still able to rack up an astonishing 67 punch outs over 43⅓ innings of work. While his 4.57 ERA is rather unimpressive, his 2.65 FIP tells a better story. Don't be shocked if Burns becomes the second-best starter behind ace Hunter Greene this season — a spot that's currently reserved for Andrew Abbott and/ or Nick Lodolo.

Luis Mey, Reds pitcher

Luis Mey had been part of the Reds organization since 2018 and received his ticket to The Show last season. Mey's sinker can hit triple digits, and opposing batters have a whale of a time just putting it in play.

Mey will be looking to lockdown the final spot in the Reds bullpen this spring, and his chances of doing so are tied to his command and control. If Mey can stay in the strike zone and effectively use his sinker-slider combination, there's an outside shot he could join the backend of the Reds bullpen by the end of the season and be deployed in high-leverage situations.

2 Reds who could flop hard in 2026

Noelvi Marte, Reds right fielder

The Reds have put a lot of faith in Noelvi Marte's abilities. Fans are hoping he rewards them with a strong performance in 2026. Marte made the switch from the infield dirt to the outfield grass last season, and seemed to fare well out in right field — his game-saving catch during the final homestand was arguably the play of the year. If he's able to show marked improvement, both in the field and at the plate, Marte could turn into an All-Star.

But Marte could also fall flat. His move to outfield is the one aspect of his game that's drawing the most attention this spring, but he needs to find more success against left-handed pitching if he hopes to be an everyday player. Last season, Marte posted a .232/.288/.274 slash line with a 55 wRC+ against southpaws. If he can't show improvement in this area, he'll be a platoon bat in 2026.

Eugenio Suárez, Reds infielder

Eugenio Suárez is beloved in Cincinnati, and his presence in the lineup and the clubhouse will be a huge boost for this young Reds team in 2026. But Suárez is streaky hitter — capable of crushing 15 home runs one month, only to turn around and hit .130 over the next 20 games. That's just the type of player he is.

Suárez is a strikeout machine. He's led the league in that category on three occasions, and almost surpassed 200 punch outs last season. Geno's production fell off a cliff following his trade to the Seattle Mariners last summer, and was likely one of the biggest reasons he remained on the free-agent market for so long. He hit just .189/.255/.428 after touching down in the Emerald City on July 31, but Reds fans are hoping for good vibes only in 2026.