Reds set to call up hot-hitting prospect Matt McLain

It's happening! According to FanSided's Robert Murray, the Cincinnati Reds plan to call up shortstop prospect Matt McLain on Monday prior to the team's game against the Colorado Rockies.

McLain was the Reds first-round draft choice back in 2021 and was taken with the 17th overall selectino out of UCLA. McLain, more than any other prospect, was aggressively promoted through in the Reds farm system.

The expectation will be that McLain will be in the starting lineup and playing shortstop on Monday. How the Reds actually reshuffle their roster is a bit of an unknown at the moment.

Reds set to call up hot-hitting prospect Matt McLain.

Matt McLain has absolutely dominated down at Triple-A Louisville this season. The 23-year-old spent last season at Double-A Chattanooga, and after a successful spring training, McLain was assigned to Louisville Bats just before the 2023 season began.

A little over a week ago, McLain hit for the cycle, and did so before the end of the sixth inning. In 37 games with the Bats this season, McLain is hitting .364/.464/.713 with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a WRC+ of 191 according to FanGraphs.

McLain, who spent his freshman at UCLA playing center field, has been on the infield dirt since joing the CIncinnati Reds organization. McLain has spent 13 games at second base, received 23 starts at shortstop, and was Louisville's DH for one game earlier this season.

In all likelihood, one of Jose Barrero or Kevin Newman will be sent down to Triple-A Louisville. Both players have minor league options remaining, and neither has impressed while playing shortstop this season; both on the diamond and in the batters' box.

This is the first of what Reds Country hopes is several promotions from Triple-A this season. Also down on the farm are top infield prospect Elly De La Crz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand as well as left-hander Andrew Abbott. Welcome to The Show, Matt McLain.