Jacob Hurtubise's impact at Reds spring training has been second only to this player

Spring training is just about over, and Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona is making his final roster adjustments ahead of Opening Day. The Reds skipper has seen several players step up their game this spring, but few have performed better than Jacob Hurtubise.

The West Point graduate has put up impressive numbers this spring. In fact, Hurtubise was cited by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com as the one player on the Reds roster who's made the biggest impression this spring. That's a fair evaluation. Hurtubise it hitting .310 with a 1.004 OPS and currently battling it out with Blake Dunn for the final spot on the Reds Opening Day roster.

But while Hurtubise has certainly put together an spectacular spring campaign, Christian Encarnacion-Strand's performance has been even better. Encarnacion-Strand, not Hurtubise, has made the biggest impression in Reds spring training.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, not Jacob Hurtubise, has been the Reds most impressive player during spring training

To be fair, maybe Sheldon is suffering from voter fatigue. After all, this isn't the first time that Reds fans have seen Encarnacion-Strand shine during spring training. Two years ago, the former Minnesota Twins farmhand hit .577/.556/1.192 with four home runs and 13 RBI. Fans were sure that Encarnacion-Strand was going to break camp and be part of the Reds Opening Day roster that year. But it never happened.

After a brief showing in 2023 and no Joey Votto at first base last spring, Encarnacion-Strand dominated once again during his time in Goodyear, Arizona. The slugger hit .333/.382/.784 in 16 Cactus League games while mashing five round trippers and racking up 14 RBI.

So it's understandable why Encarnacion-Strand's .268/.295/.537 slash line isn't garnering as much attention as his previous two trips through Reds spring training. But all reports suggest that Encarnacion-Strand has come into camp in tremendous shape and his defense is far better than we've seen in years past. While he hasn't put up those explosive numbers we're used to seeing, Encarnacion-Strand has caught the attention of the Reds coaching staff and close observers.

After a trying season a year ago, Encarnacion-Strand is finally healthy. The 25-year-old could be a key cog in the middle of the Reds lineup. At the moment, Francona's first four batters (TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Austin Hays) are set in stone. But don't be shocked if Encarnacion-Strand grabs that fifth spot on Opening Day and into the regular season.

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