President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall takes questions during an event to introduce the new manager of the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Reds Execs Believe Cincinnati Will See a Major Breakout From Young Infielder

Originally posted on Cincinnati Reds on SI
By Zach Pressnell | Last updated Mar 20, 2026 10:18 AM ET

The Cincinnati Reds are loaded with talent this season and it's been on full display this spring. They've seen breakout performances from players like Rece Hinds, Will Benson, Sal Stewart, and plenty of others. Elly De La Cruz, of course, has looked good as well. But the Reds MVP of spring training, if that was such an award, would very clearly go to second baseman Matt McLain.

McLain has slashed .512/.565/.1.024 with an OPS of 1.560. Through 14 games and 41 at-bats, McLain has recorded 21 hits, one double, one triple, six home runs, 15 runs scored, 13 RBI, two stolen bases, and five walks. He's truly been the most dominant player of the spring.

“Matt has been outstanding in camp. He has taken good at-bats and hit for power. He has also played great defense," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told Jim Bowden of The Athletic.

Matt McLain Looks Healthy for the Reds this Spring

This is the kind of production the Reds have dreamed of with McLain. Obviously a pace like this is unsustainable for in hitter in the history of the game, but it's a sign of good things for the Reds second baseman following a very massive down year in 2025.

McLain looked good during his rookie campaign in 2023, but he suffered a shoulder injury required surgery and would cost him his entire 2024 season. After returning from this surgery, McLain OPS+ dropped from 127 in 2023 to 74 in 2025. His OPS dropped over 200 points in that span. But the infielder looks healthy and much stronger now than he did at any point last year.

“He’s fully healthy and looks like himself again. Staying on the ball better, using the whole field and really driving the ball well," Reds general manager Brad Meador told Bowden.

The young infielder may have needed an additional year to get back to full strength. Oftentimes with labrum surgeries, the player can return to the field, but the strength and power doesn't reach pre-surgery feeling until a year or so later.

With McLain struggling so much last year, it would be easy to write him off this season. But the youngster is still incredibly talented. Though spring training is a small sample size, he's been incredible. If he can reach his full potential, it would go a long way toward making the Reds real contenders.

This article first appeared on Cincinnati Reds on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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