Austin Hays DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list with a calf injury. Hays was held out of the starting lineup on Tuesday due to this injury and will now miss the start of the regular season. Hays signed a one-year contract with the Reds during the offseason. Last summer, the 29-year-old posted a .255/.303/.396 slash line split between time with the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies. He generated a modest .234 xBA with a low 3.5 percent walk rate. When healthy, Hays was expected to be the primary left fielder and was even projected to bat in the cleanup spot. However, while sidelined fantasy managers should expect Blake Dunn or Gavin Lux to have an increased role in left field.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (calf), who was expected to be in the team's starting lineup while batting cleanup on Tuesday for an exhibition game against minor-leaguers, was absent due to a calf injury, according to the team's radio broadcast. It's unknown if the injury will keep him out for Opening Day on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. Hays went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the team's final Cactus League game on Sunday and also hit .310 during spring training. It's unclear when he my have picked up the injury, but with Spencer Steer (shoulder) opening on the injured list, Hays should see plenty of playing time in left field for the Reds to open the year as long as he's healthy. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for $5 million with Cincy in the offseason. Hays spent time on the injured list last year with Baltimore due to a strained left calf, so this injury will be worth watching.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal on Tuesday with free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, according to a source briefed on the discussions. The deal is pending a physical and includes $1 million in incentives. The former third-rounder of the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 out of Jacksonville University was in a platoon role with the O's in 2024 before being dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies. The 29-year-old struggled in his time with Philly and also dealt with a kidney infection last September. It could help explain why Hays hit only .255/.303/.396 with just five home runs in 85 combined games with the Phils and O's after he was a first-time All-Star in 2023. He hit .256 with a .672 OPS in 22 games for Philly, but he was an above-average offensive player before last season. The Reds will be hoping he can rebound and at least fill the short side of an outfield platoon against left-handed pitching.