Reds Designate Top Prospect for Assignment Amid Roster Moves

Cincinnati makes surprising decision to cut ties with former top minor league slugger Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:20pm

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The Cincinnati Reds, one of the hottest teams in baseball early in the season, have made a surprising roster move by designating former top prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand for assignment. This comes after the team placed backup catcher Jose Trevino on the 10-day injured list with a thoracic spine strain, prompting the Reds to select the contract of P.J. Higgins from Triple-A Louisville to bolster their catching depth.

Why it matters

Encarnacion-Strand, a 26-year-old corner infielder, has shown immense power potential throughout his minor league career, but has struggled with injuries and inconsistency at the big league level over the past two seasons. The Reds' decision to part ways with him suggests the team has determined he no longer fits into their future plans, despite his impressive minor league production.

The details

To make room on the 40-man roster for Higgins, the Reds designated Encarnacion-Strand for assignment. Encarnacion-Strand is expected to be claimed by another team off waivers, as he has a career minor league OPS of .943 and has hit 69 home runs in the minors. However, he played in fewer than 100 games over the past two seasons due to injuries and inconsistent performance at the plate.

  • The Reds placed Jose Trevino on the 10-day injured list on April 8, 2026.
  • The Reds selected P.J. Higgins' contract from Triple-A Louisville on April 8, 2026.
  • The Reds designated Christian Encarnacion-Strand for assignment on April 8, 2026.

The players

Jose Trevino

The Reds' backup catcher who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a thoracic spine strain.

P.J. Higgins

A catcher who had his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville to bolster the Reds' catching depth.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand

A 26-year-old former top prospect for the Reds who was designated for assignment after struggling with injuries and inconsistency over the past two seasons.

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What’s next

Encarnacion-Strand will likely be claimed by another team off waivers, as he has shown impressive power potential in the minor leagues despite his recent struggles at the big league level.

The takeaway

The Reds' decision to part ways with Encarnacion-Strand, a former top prospect, highlights the team's depth and talent at the corner infield positions, with the additions of Ke'Bryan Hayes and Eugenio Suárez, as well as the emergence of Sal Stewart and the potential call-up of Edwin Arroyo. This move suggests the Reds believe they have better options to contribute to their current and future success.