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Reds activate Christian Encarnacion-Strand from IL. What it means for the roster
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is back up with the Cincinnati Reds and in the starting lineup. In order to make room for "CES," the Reds seem likely to lose out on having catcher Austin Wynns' services.
Encarnacion-Strand was activated Friday off the injured list, the Reds announced Friday. Encarnacion-Strand had been on the IL since April 17 (back inflammation). "CES" batted .324 with a 1.095 OPS in his 10-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. His hot hitting at that level included two home runs, five doubles and seven RBIs.
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"We'll see. He was swinging the bat very well on his rehab while he was in Triple-A," Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday. "If he's able to stay in the strike zone, he's got kinda silly power to all fields. That would be welcome. It maybe allows us to start moving (Spencer) Steer around because when he's healthy enough to do it, maybe it gives us a few more options."
Christian Encarnacion-Strand batted .324 with a 1.095 OPS in his 10-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville. His hit two home runs with five doubles and seven RBIs.
Following his own early-season injury troubles, Steer has been stuck at first base.
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The corresponding roster move with bringing Encarnacion-Strand back was designating Wynns for assignment.
In the absence of the since-recalled Tyler Stephenson (oblique strain), Wynns served as the backup catcher to Jose Trevino, who was the projected backup ahead of spring training.
Wynns more than held his own behind the plate and with a bat in his hand − so much so that the Reds opted to carry three catchers on their roster when Stephenson returned from injury.
In 18 games this season, Wynns hit .400 with 16 hits and 11 RBI. But he was squeezed in terms of playing time with three catchers on the roster. In May, Wynns was used mostly as a late-inning catcher or pinch hitter, and had just seven at-bats during the month.
Austin Wynns, whose playing time was limited after Tyler Stephenson returned from the injured list, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
Other clubs now have the opportunity to add Wynns, and the Reds will understand if that happens. In some ways, Francona seems to be rooting for the individual because of his professionalism, and because it seems obvious Wynns has more to offer than he can with Cincinnati at the moment.
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"You know what, he deserves it and I would love to keep him in the organization and we told him that," Francona said, "I'm not even comfortable saying 'fingers crossed' because the guy deserves to be in the major leagues. He handled a really (crappy) thing really well. He is (a pro). He was and is and will be."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds activate Christian Encarnacion-Strand from IL. What it means for roster
