Reds call up top infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand

Cincinnati Reds call up top prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand. His agency, Munger English Sports Management, confirmed Encarnacion-Strand’s call to WLWT early Monday morning. The move has not been officially announced by the Reds. Speculation about a potential CES call-up began swirling Sunday afternoon after he was removed from the Louisville Bats lineup shortly before their game against the Nashville Sounds. Ranked No. 5 in the Reds organization by MLB Pipeline, CES has slashed .322/.386/. 604 with 20 home runs and 62 RBI, both of which place him in the top 10 in the International League. A native of Walnut Creek, Calif., Encarnacion-Strand was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 draft by the Minnesota Twins out of Oklahoma State, but was traded to the Reds last year in exchange for Tyler Mahle. Also part of the deal were Spencer Steer, who was on the Reds’ Opening Day roster this year, and lefty pitcher Steve Hajjar, whom the Reds traded to Cleveland to complete the Will Benson acquisition in March. It’s unclear right now where the former Cowboy will play in the Cincinnati lineup, with Steer and Joey Votto penciled in day-to-day at their respective corner infield positions. CES is the fourth top prospect to be called up by the Reds this season, and the first of the second half, and will look to join such rookie sensations as Elly De La Cruz, Andrew Abbot and Matt McClain. The Reds opened their second half and were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, to whom Cincinnati has lost four in a row. They open a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.