Photo: Doug Gray
Two of the Cincinnati Reds top prospects are going to miss the start of the minor league season. Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Elly De La Cruz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are both dealing with injuries and won’t begin the season when the 2023 minor league season gets underway next week. Along with starting pitcher Chase Petty, three of the Reds Top 10 prospects won’t be on the field when the minor league season begins.
Elly De La Cruz is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Reds top prospect isn’t expected to miss too much time, but likely won’t be ready to go for the first two weeks or so of the regular season. Triple-A Louisville’s season begins on March 31st (Double-A Chattanooga begins on April 6th in the scenario where he would begin his season back with the Lookouts). De La Cruz is coming off of a season in which he won the triple crown within the Reds farm system, hitting .304/.359/.586 with 31 doubles, 9 triples, 28 home runs, and 47 stolen bases between High-A Dayton and Double-A Chattanooga in 2022. He also played for Licey for a month in the Dominican Winter League, hitting .286/.396/.417 in 101 plate appearances.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is expected to miss a little more time than De La Cruz. The corner infielder is dealing with some “slight disc herniation in his back. Encarnacion-Strand originally injured himself in early February, but was able to get on the field in time for spring training. The team’s 7th rated prospect hit the cover off of the ball this spring with the big league club, hitting .577 and slugging 1.192 with a team best four home runs despite playing in just 12 games before the team reassigned him to minor league camp. His back began to act up again and according to the report in the Enquirer, he’s potentially going to return around April 19th or April 24th depending on whether or not he’ll return as a part time player and designated hitter or if he’ll get an extra few days and come back ready to play every day and in the field.
