The Cincinnati Reds sent first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand and starting pitcher Chase Petty to the minors this morning after both players faced difficulties during limited opportunities in the 2025 season and spring camp. These moves come as the team finalizes its roster ahead of Opening Day, with neither athlete securing a clear spot after underwhelming performances.
Encarnacion-Strand’s Decline After Promising Rookie Season
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who held the Reds’ opening day first base position in each of the last two seasons, showed early potential as a rookie in 2023 with a .270/.328/.477 slash line over 63 games. However, he has not been able to replicate that success. Over 65 games spanning 2024 and 2025, he hit just .199/.227/.337 while striking out over 25% of the time. Injuries have further hampered his progress; a wrist fracture in 2024 required surgery, and a back injury caused him to miss additional time last season, leading to a demotion to Triple-A during the latter half of 2025.
At 26 years old, Encarnacion-Strand’s most recent minor league stint was steady but unremarkable, posting a .246/.309/.492 line with 11 home runs and a 25.1% strikeout rate in 64 games. This spring, he also struggled to gain traction, hitting 5-for-15 with two doubles across six appearances.
First Base Depth and Competition for Bench Spot
The Reds now plan to start rookie Sal Stewart at first base, while Eugenio Suárez will participate both as a designated hitter and a backup at first. Players Nathaniel Lowe and Michael Toglia remain in camp on minor league contracts, vying for roster consideration. With outfielder Will Benson on the 40-man roster, the Reds likely have only one bench spot to fill among minor league invitees and Benson. Benson has shown some power this spring with three home runs but also a balanced count of walks and strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. In comparison, Lowe has managed a .200 average in 22 at-bats with a couple of home runs, while Toglia, considered the least likely contender, has struck out four times in 11 plate appearances.
Petty Returns to Triple-A After Mixed Performance
Chase Petty, a former first-round draft pick, appeared in three major league games last year but struggled, allowing 14 runs over six innings. Though he pitched four scoreless innings this spring, striking out two and walking two, the Reds chose to option him back to Triple-A Louisville, where he ended last season with a 6.39 ERA across 112 2/3 innings.
Rotation Adjustments and Emerging Pitching Candidates
Hunter Greene is expected to begin the season on the injured list due to recent elbow stiffness, prompting manager Terry Francona to name Andrew Abbott as the starter for Opening Day, marking Abbott’s first start in this role. The middle of the pitching staff will be led by Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo. For the final roster spots, Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder appear to be leading candidates, with lefty Brandon Williamson as the main alternative. Both Williamson and Lowder were sidelined for the entire last season. Lowder impressed in spring camp with seven strikeouts over five innings while allowing just one run. Williamson has struck out six batters in four innings but gave up two runs on three hits.
Implications of the Latest Roster Moves
The decisions to option Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Chase Petty reflect the Reds’ cautious approach toward players who have not consistently delivered at the major league level, despite early promise. Entrusting Sal Stewart with the first base role signals a commitment to younger talent, while multiple pitchers compete to stabilize the rotation amid injuries. These adjustments will shape Cincinnati’s roster dynamics as the team aims to improve its performance this season, with further evaluation of players like Andrew Abbott and Rhett Lowder expected to continue through early play.
