One of the most crucial questions the Cincinnati Reds need an answer to is which version of Matt McLain is going to show up in 2026. Would it be the 2023 version that looked like a phenom and finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting despite playing in just 89 games? Or would it be the 2025 version that looked lost at the plate and posted a .643 OPS?
McLain missed the entire 2024 campaign after undergoing left shoulder surgery to repair his labrum and cartilage damage. There was always some hope that the dramatic offensive downturn was a result of him still regaining strength and shaking off the rust, but it was hard to know for sure.