When the Cincinnati Reds signed Eugenio Suárez to a one-year, $15 million deal earlier this month, the chances of Christian Encarnacion-Strand making the Opening Day roster went down quite a bit. The plan is for Suárez to takeover as the Reds' primary designated hitter in 2026 while also spending some time at first and third base — a role shared by Encarnacion-Strand.
But after Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith's recent reveal from spring training, Encarnacion-Strand's odds to make the Reds Opening Day roster have all but evaporated. Per Goldsmith, Encarnacion-Strand tweaked his hamstring in January.