After promoting one top prospect to the majors, the Reds have others waiting to make their debuts in 2023
With hot-hitting middle infielder Matt McClain recently joining the major league squad, the Cincinnati Reds have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to infield prospects.
2021 National League Rookie of the Year winner Johnathan India is firmly entrenched at second base, so the Reds will have to get creative to find positions in the lineup for everyone.
Elly De La Cruz
The top prospect in the Reds organization, De La Cruz is a 6'5" switch-hitting shortstop who profiles to play third base in the majors due to his size.
Breaking out after batting .304 with 28 home runs and 86 RBI across two levels in 2022, De La Cruz has gotten off to a hot start in 2023. Hitting .280 with six home runs and 21 RBI while showing an increased eye at the plate on pace for a career-high in walks.
He is viewed as a potential franchise cornerstone so the Reds won't be inclined to rush him to the majors, but he should definitely make his debut before the season is over.
Noelvi Marte
The main piece in the trade that sent pitcher Luis Castillo to the Seattle Mariners, Marte is a hard-hitting natural shortstop that like De La Cruz can move over to the hot corner.
With great bat speed and a good eye at the plate, Marte packs more punch they you would expect for his size. Averaging 18 home runs over the past two seasons he also has sneaky speed that has seen him exceed 20 stolen bases in each of those seasons too.
With McClain in the majors and De La Cruz on the brink, Marte will have to continue to impress to force his way to the MLB in 2023.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand
In a sneaky deal at the 2022 trade deadline, the Reds acquired Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer in a deal for pitcher Tyler Mahle with the Minnesota Twins.
With Steer being the main piece of the trade, Encarnacion-Strand has made a name for himself in the Reds organization. Currently hitting .365 with 10 home runs and 23 RBI he is forcing his way into the Reds plans for 2023.
Longtime franchise leader Joey Votto recently transferred to the 60-day injured list, the Reds are looking for his replacement and might have found the answer in Encarnacion-Strand.
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