Injured Reds slugger still has fan support but patience is starting to fade

Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been on the injured list since mid-April with a lower back issue. The Cincinnati Reds' first baseman has been doing some light running of late, but the latest update didn't reveal any sort of timeline for Encarnacion-Strand's return to the lineup.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but at some point, Encarncacion-Strand will have to put those issues in the rearview mirror and find a way to stay on the field. This latest ailment comes on the heels of a wrist injury that sidelined Encarnacion-Strand for all but 29 games in 2024. Since his debut in 2023, Encarnacion-Strand has only played in 107 games, and the string of injuries will conjure up memories of other top prospects who's careers were derailed by multiple stints on the IL.

Fans will remember Nick Senzel's constant battle to stay on the field. The former No. 2 overall pick spent countless days on the IL during his Reds career. Zack Cozart is another recent example of a talented player who became known more for his inability to stay on the field than what he could actually do when he was on it. Encarnacion-Strand is tracking in that direction.

Injured Reds slugger Christian Encarnacion-Strand still has fan support (for now)

But just like Senzel and Cozart discovered, once you become tagged with that "injury-prone" label, the organization begins to look at alternative solutions. Encarnacion-Strand has fallen victim to that line of thinking as Spencer Steer has become the unquestioned first baseman in Cincinnati at the moment.

Steer's slow-start to the season was due, in part, to a shoulder injury. But with that behind him, Steer has returned to form after ditching the DH-only moniker and logging starts at first base. Steer's production has spiked recently, and while he's not all the way back, the 27-year-old has shown marked improvement at the plate.

There's also whispers (from fans, at least) that Tyler Stephenson could get some reps at first base. This experiment has been tried before with little-to-no success, but with Jose Trevino playing well behind the plate, it would offer the Reds a way to get both backstops into the everyday lineup. While the Reds coaching staff hasn't leaned into this fan sentiment, it's certainly a possibility.

Cincinnati needs Encarnacion-Strand's bat back in the lineup, but when he does return, what version of CES will the Reds be getting? The player from 2023 who posted a 112 OPS+, or the one from the past two seasons who's been injury-plagued and appeared in just 44 games while hitting a combined .179/.208/.295 with a 36 OPS+. While the injuries are a concern, the production from the past two seasons is much more alarming.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors