The Cincinnati Reds have made a gutsy roster move that could have long-term implications on their postseason hopes.
On Saturday, just ahead of Game 2 against the Colorado Rockies, the Reds activated Jake Fraley—the gritty veteran outfielder—from the injured list. But the price of his return was steep: the team optioned promising young slugger Christian Encarnacion-Strand back to Triple-A Louisville.
It’s a decision that has Reds fans buzzing.
Fraley, often described as a “veteran grinder” for his hustle and leadership, hasn’t had the kind of season he hoped for. He’s hitting just .224 with five home runs and 17 RBIs, along with a .707 OPS.
A key piece of last season’s success, Fraley has struggled to replicate his .277 batting average from 2024. Still, his versatility—covering all three outfield spots and even first base—makes him a valuable piece of the puzzle as the Reds try to stay afloat in a tight Wild Card race.
His return, however, forced the Reds into a difficult decision—sending down Christian Encarnacion-Strand, once viewed as the club’s long-term solution at first base. CES has been in a sophomore slump, batting just .208 with six home runs, 19 RBIs, and a disappointing .610 OPS across 130 at-bats. It’s a far cry from the rookie flash he showed in 2023 when he posted a .805 OPS with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs.
At just 25 years old, there’s still plenty of time for Encarnacion-Strand to develop into a cornerstone bat, but for now, he’ll need to regroup in Louisville and find his swing.
This move comes with the Reds sitting at 48–47, stuck in fourth place in the NL Central but only four games back of a Wild Card spot. The margin for error is razor thin, and the front office knows it. Led by electric star Elly De La Cruz and a steadily improving pitching staff, Cincinnati is walking a fine line between building for the future and going all in for the now.
Fraley’s return injects experience, grit, and a left-handed bat into a team desperate for a spark. But sending down a high-upside slugger like CES is a gamble that could either tighten the Reds’ playoff push—or come back to haunt them.
As the postseason race heats up, this move may very well be remembered as a turning point in Cincinnati’s road to October glory.
