The Cincinnati Reds sent a handful of prospects to the Arizona Fall League this year, like they do every October. But this year they, along with several other teams, sent big leaguers out there who missed a large portion of the season and are essentially giving them a “rehab assignment” at the end of the year. While Matt McLain did not play on Monday night – he’s on the taxi squad and is only eligible to play twice a week, Christian Encarnacion-Strand was in the lineup at first base and in the cleanup spot.
In each of his first two games he went 2-4 with a double. He also started those games at two different positions, too. His first start was as the club’s designated hitter and then in his second game he was out in right field. Encarnacion-Strand kept the trend going against Peoria – which has been the opponent in all three games that he’s played in thus far – and he picked up two more hits in four at-bats. He would drive in a run and he’s picked up a walk.
For the AFL season he’s now hitting .500, going 6-12 with two doubles and two walks. What’s a bit strange is that he’s yet to score a run. But he’s done plenty in the way of run production as he’s driven in seven runs in his three games, with at least one run batted in in each of his three games.
The Reds infielder wasn’t the only player involved in the game from the organization. Tyler Callihan who spent the 2024 season in Double-A (and missed two months with an injury) was in the leadoff spot for Glendale and went 2-5 with a steal and an RBI. He’s hitting .308 with three steals early on in the AFL season. Edwin Arroyo went 1-4 with a walk, steal, and two runs while starting the game at shortstop. After missing the entire 2024 regular season after having shoulder surgery, he’s out to a hot start and is hitting .333.
Three Reds pitchers also got into the game. Right-handed pitcher Jose Acuna started the game and threw 3.0 shutout innings on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters. Arij Fransen pitched a perfect 7th inning with two strikeouts. And in the 9th inning it was Luis Mey who picked up his 2nd save of the AFL campaign with a hitless inning that also saw him hit 101 MPH.
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