Reds risk burying the one hitter who solves their biggest problem

Christian Encarnacion-Strand could be the key to fixing the Cincinnati Reds' biggest problem. The Reds have been among the bottom-half in baseball in home run production since 2022, and last season, finished 21st in homers and slugging percentage.

Encarnacion-Stand had a ton of success during his minor league stint with the Reds. He also slugged .477 during his 63-game debut in 2023 while hitting thirteen home runs. Despite this, a season-ending injury last year and a poor 36-game start to 2025 has decimated his standing within the organization.

Reds risk burying Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the depth chart this offseason

Through mid-April, Encarnacion-Strand boasted a .158/.183/.298 slash line and then landed on the injured list. Once he returned in early-June, his bat aided in the sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a homer and 2-plus hits in each game, including a walk-off single. Unfortunately, he was never the same afterward.

After a horrendous 17-game stretch, Encarnacion-Strand was banished to Triple-A for the remainder of the regular season. In his absence, Spencer Steer turned in a Gold Glove-caliber performance at first base. The Reds acquired another Gold Glove candidate, KeBryan Hayes, at the July 31 trade deadline, to further their defense-first mindset.

Sal Stewart rose to the occasion after being called up in September, and led the Reds in home runs during the final month of the season. In the meantime, Encarnacion-Strand hit .245 with 11 big flies over 62 games at Triple-A Louisville. The once highly-touted prospect has suddenly disappeared, and it's questionable if he'll even get a chance to redeem himself in 2026.

Reds GM Brad Meador may have been targeting players like Encarnacion-Strand with his comments after the Reds lost the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series. “We need guys to have good offseasons, show back up ready to go, and show back up ready to take the next step."

Encarnacion-Strand can be a difference maker — his power potential is through the roof, but the inconsistency in his game must be straightened out. He'll likely be fighting for a roster spot once spring training opens next year, meaning this offseason could be make-or-break for the Reds' once-prized possession.