Reds infielder Matt McLain was scratched from the lineup Monday as a result of some discomfort in his left shoulder, prompting the membership to have an MRI carried out. Whereas the crew hasn’t divulged something conclusive but, supervisor David Bell offered an ominous replace Wednesday, telling the Reds beat that the MRI discovered “one thing” and that the crew continues to be gathering data and figuring out the way to proceed (X hyperlink through Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). There’s an unusually broad vary of outcomes at this level, as Bell didn’t firmly rule out McLain for the Opening Day roster but in addition acknowledged that there’s a “risk” of shoulder surgical procedure.
The seventeenth general decide within the 2021 draft, the now-24-year-old McLain made his massive league debut in 2023 and instantly made an impression. In 89 video games and 403 journeys to the plate, he slashed .290/.357/.507 (128 wRC+) with 16 homers, 23 doubles, 4 triples and 14 stolen bases (in 19 tries). His 7.7% stroll price was a bit decrease than common, whereas his 28.5% strikeout price was properly north of common.
McLain had some luck on balls in play (.385 BABIP), although a few of that lofty BABIP is attributable to an enormous 24.2% line-drive price and powerful 42.8% hard-hit price. It’s nonetheless truthful to mission some regression in his efficiency, however even when he’s not hitting on the borderline star-caliber degree he did in 2023, McLain has the look of an on a regular basis fixture within the Reds’ lineup due each to his bat and his defensive versatility.
Although McLain was drafted as a shortstop, he break up hit time between the 2 center infield slots. Bell recommended earlier in camp that McLain was likelier to give attention to second base this season. Elly De La Cruz is predicted to take the lion’s share of reps at shortstop, although McLain may slide to that aspect of the bag within the occasion of additional damage troubles for De La Cruz.
The Reds have a famous infield surplus which was solely deepened once they signed Jeimer Candelario to a three-year deal over the winter. An 80-game PED suspension for promising 22-year-old Noelvi Marte has thinned out the perceived logjam a bit, and an absence for McLain would lend additional readability to the division of enjoying time across the diamond. Because it stands, Candelario seems lined up for normal work on the sizzling nook, with De La Cruz at quick, McLain at second, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base and Spencer Steer in left subject. Former NL Rookie of the Yr Jonathan India has been anticipated to bounce between second base, first base and designated hitter, although he may definitely reclaim common enjoying time at second base if McLain heads to the injured listing.
McLain picked up 140 days of main league service time in 2023, leaving him a bit greater than a month shy of a full yr (172 days). Meaning the Reds nonetheless have six full seasons of management over him, although he’ll very possible wind up reaching Tremendous Two standing and thus be eligible for arbitration 4 instances fairly than the usual three. The primary of these 4 offseasons of arbitration eligibility would fall after the 2025 marketing campaign. On his present trajectory, McLain wouldn’t qualify totally free company till the 2029-30 offseason.
