Christian Encarnacion-Strand's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand), Matt McLain (shoulder) and Edwin Arroyo (shoulder) will play in the Arizona Fall League, which began play on Monday. Both McLain and Arroyo missed all of 2024 after suffering shoulder injuries. McLain also dealt with a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is slated to play shortstop, second base and center field in the AFL, and he could also play in the outfield. If fully healthy in 2025, McLain is expected to mostly see time at second in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in June that required surgery. He will be available to play first and third base in the AFL and could also see action in the outfield. The 24-year-old will need to prove himself in spring training in order to find consistent playing time to open the 2025 campaign.

Cincinnati Reds corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist), who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery back in the middle of July to fix ligaments in his fractured right wrist, has resumed baseball activities, according to manager David Bell. Encarnacion-Strand will have all offseason to rehab his injured wrist and should have plenty of time to get back to 100 percent before the start of spring training next February. It was a disappointing season for anyone that drafted the 24-year-old power-hitting right-hander in 2024, and not just because of his serious injury. The former fourth-rounder by the Minnesota Twins in 2021 out of Oklahoma State hit just .190 (22-for-116) with two home runs, 16 RBI and 13 runs scored in 29 games before getting hurt. Barring a setback with his wrist, CES should be a starter for Cincy in 2025.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) will have right-hand surgery on July 11. The surgery comes with an expected recovery timeline of three months, so he'll essentially miss the rest of the 2024 season. Encarnacion-Strand initially went on the injured list in early May with what the team called a right ulnar styloid fracture in his hand, but additional testing showed ligament damage. Fantasy managers were expecting a lot from the 24-year-old power hitter after he batted .270 with 13 home runs in only 63 games in his rookie season in 2023, so this is obviously a big blow for anyone that drafted him. CES ended up playing in only 29 games this year and hit .190/.220/.293 with two homers and 16 RBI. Spencer Steer should continue to man first base for the Reds moving forward, which has opened up playing time at third base for Santiago Espinal.