Reds quietly shift plans as Christian Encarnacion-Strand nears return

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who's currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville, was not playing first base on Thursday night against the Norfolk Tide. Instead, the Cincinnati Reds slugger was back home at third base. This could be a a sign of things to come.

The Reds sent Jeimer Candelario, who's also rehabbing from an injury, to join Encarnacion-Strand at Louisville on Thursday. Candelario had been getting in reps at the team's facility in Arizona, but as he nears a return from a lumbar spine strain, the Reds shifted his assignment to the Derby City.

On Thursday night, Candelario was at first base for the Louisville Bats and Encarnacion-Strand was at the hot corner. This is the second game in a row in which Encarnacion-Strand has played third base, and is a good indication of where Cincinnati plans to play him once he's activated from the injured list.

Will the Reds move Christian Encarnacion-Strand to third base upon his return?

With Candelario and Noelvi Marte also on the IL at the moment, the Reds have relied heavily on Santiago Espinal at the hot corner. A terrific defender, Espinal lacks the type of bat that most managers desire from a third baseman. Terry Francona has continually deployed Espinal as the No. 2 hitter in the Reds' batting order, but with Encarnacion-Strand ready to rejoin the ball club, the lineup could be in for a shakeup.

Encarnacion-Strand is the type of power-bat that Cincinnati needs in the middle of the batting order. Given Spencer Steer's outstanding defense at first base, the best way to get Encarnacion-Strand's bat into the lineup with regularity might be to move him back to natural position.

All of Encarnacion-Strand's 15 games this season have come at first base. In fact, outside of four starts at the hot corner in 2023 and three innings in the outfield that year, Encarnacion-Strand's primary position has been first base. In the minors, however, Encarnacion-Strand has plenty of experience at third base.

As a young prospect with the Minnesota Twins, Encarnacion-Strand played 55 games at third base in 2022. Once he was traded to Cincinnati, the slugger shifted his attention to first base, but still had 31 starts at third base during two minor league stints with the Reds.

There's little doubt that Cincinnati needs Encarnacion-Strand's bat back in the lineup. Given Candelario's shift to Louisville and Austin Hays' progress, it's quite possible that the Reds could activate all three players within the next week. With both Espinal and Matt McLain struggling at the plate, Reds fans should expect Encarnacion-Strand to move around the infield more than he has in the past.

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