Cincinnati Reds promote Christian Encarnacion-Strand to big leagues

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was getting ready to run out for the national anthem Sunday with the Triple-A Louisville Bats when manager Pat Kelly stopped him and told him he was pulling him from the lineup.

It wasn’t until an inning into the game that Kelly gave Encarnacion-Strand the real reason for not playing him: he was going to the big leagues.

The Cincinnati Reds announced the promotion of Encarnacion-Strand, 23, on Monday. He was scheduled to bat seventh as the designated hitter for the opener of a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park.

“It means a lot,” Encarnacion-Strand told reporters before the game. ”It’s something I feel like I’ve worked for for a really, really long time, and now I get to play with a really really good group of guys. So hopefully I can come up and help them win.”

Encarnacion-Strand, who will wear No. 33, took the place of infielder Kevin Newman (gastritis), who was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Friday, on the roster.

Encarnacion-Strand hit .331 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs in 67 games with the Bats. He will be the 12th player to make his big-league debut for the Reds this season. That group includes Abbott and two everyday starters: Matt McLain; and Elly De La Cruz. Each started the season on the Bats roster with Encarnacion-Strand.

“The guys are always welcoming,” Encarnacion-Strand said. “Same thing in spring training. They were super nice, super welcoming, so I don’t feel pressure or any anxiety.”

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The Twins drafted Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth round in 2021 out of Oklahoma State. He’s from Walnut Creek, Calif. The Reds acquired him, along with Spencer Steer and Steven Hajjar, in August 2022 in the trade that sent Tyler Mahle to Minnesota.

In a ranking of Reds prospects by MLB.com, Encarnacion-Strand ranked fifth behind Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Cam Collier and Andrew Abbott, who joined the Reds in May.

In Triple-A, Encarnacion-Strand played 41 games at first base and 18 at third. He also started eight games as the designated hitter, one game in left field and one in right.

“It’s not necessarily that I’m more comfortable, but I think I have played more first base this year,” he said. “I got comfortable playing there, but I feel comfortable with third and first. First seems a little easier for me, though.”