Christian Encarnacion-Strand DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Cincinnati Reds announced that infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Encarnacion-Strand is finally ready to resume playing in games after originally being placed on the injured list on April 17 with inflammation in his lower back. It's unclear exactly how long the 25-year-old will play in rehab games in the minor leagues, but barring a flare-up with his back, it's possible that he could be back on the Reds' active big-league roster by next weekend. CES was Cincy's primary first baseman early in the season before his injury, but he hit just .158 (9-for-57) with two homers, five RBI and four runs scored before getting hurt. Since he's been out, Spencer Steer has held down the fort at the hot corner, so it's unclear how much playing time will be available to Encarnacion-Strand when he's ready to return.

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) is doing really well, and his next step in the rehab process will be playing games in Arizona. Encarnacion-Strand is likely to start out in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before eventually moving to higher levels of the minors. The 25-year-old needed multiple rounds of epidural injections for his back inflammation, but he has been doing baseball activities and improving since then. The Reds haven't given a specific timetable for CES to return from his injury, but barring a setback during his rehab assignment, he could be ready to return from the injured list near the end of this month. He was hitting just .158 (9-for-57) with two home runs and five RBI at the time of his injury, though, so it's unclear what kind of role he'll have in the big leagues when he's fully healthy again.

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) could start ramping up his baseball activities next week. Encarnacion-Strand is "continuing to take steps" and has been moving around and working out. The 25-year-old took swings off a tee in late April and is now on the verge of ramping up his rehab as he recovers from lower-back inflammation that landed him on the 10-day injured list. He was given an epidural injection along the way to help treat the inflammation in his back. With both Jeimer Candelario (back) and Noelvi Marte (oblique) facing extended absences, it's possible that CES is the first of Cincy's injured infielders to return, potentially in late May. Encarnacion was hitting just .158/.183/.298 with two homers and five RBI in his first 57 at-bats, but he should play regularly whenever he's able to return at either first, third or designated hitter.