Reds Recall Streaking Triple-A Slugger After Optioning Slumping Noelvi Marte

Cincinnati hopes Rece Hinds can provide an offensive spark as the team struggles at the plate early in the season.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:51pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player swinging a bat, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic motion and energy of the sport.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the raw power and kinetic energy of a baseball player at the plate, reflecting the Reds' hopes that Rece Hinds can provide a much-needed offensive boost.Cincinnati Today

The Cincinnati Reds have optioned struggling outfielder Noelvi Marte to their Triple-A affiliate Louisville Bats and will recall outfielder Rece Hinds, who has been tearing it up in the minors. Marte, 24, hit just .138 with no home runs or RBIs in 11 games to start the season, prompting the move. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Hinds is slashing .354/.471/.775 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs in 13 games at Louisville and had an impressive spring training, batting .410 with a 1.414 OPS and 5 homers.

Why it matters

The Reds are off to a 9-7 start but have struggled offensively, ranking 29th out of 30 MLB teams in OPS and 26th in runs scored. Bringing up the hot-hitting Hinds could provide a much-needed boost to their lineup as they try to keep pace in the NL Central.

The details

Noelvi Marte, who thrived in right field for the Reds late last season, has gotten off to a brutal start in 2026, hitting just .138 with no home runs or RBIs in 11 games. Reds manager Terry Francona said Marte has been 'trying to hit everything' and is 'having a tough time' at the plate. In a corresponding move, the Reds will recall outfielder Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville, where he's been tearing the cover off the ball, slashing .354/.471/.775 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs in 13 games. Hinds also had an outstanding spring training, batting .410 with a 1.414 OPS and 5 homers.

  • On Monday, April 13, the Reds optioned Marte to Triple-A Louisville.
  • The Reds and Giants open a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 14.

The players

Noelvi Marte

A 24-year-old outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds who struggled mightily to start the 2026 season, hitting just .138 with no home runs or RBIs in 11 games.

Rece Hinds

A 25-year-old outfielder in the Reds' minor league system who has been tearing it up at Triple-A Louisville, slashing .354/.471/.775 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs in 13 games. He also had an impressive spring training.

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

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What they’re saying

“He's just having a tough time. He looks like he's trying to hit everything. When you see him going up there and swinging at a 2-0 breaking ball, sometimes it's hard to let the game come to you.”

— Terry Francona, Reds Manager

What’s next

The Reds and Giants open a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 14, and Hinds is expected to make his season debut for Cincinnati in that game.

The takeaway

The Reds are hoping the addition of the hot-hitting Rece Hinds can provide a much-needed offensive boost as they try to keep pace in the NL Central. Marte's struggles have been a disappointment, but the team is giving him a chance to work things out at Triple-A before potentially returning to the big-league roster.