The Cincinnati Reds haven’t been particularly good, but you could very well say they have been surprisingly competent in 2023 so far.
They are, before Monday’s games, 18-22, just four games from a .500 record and five games out of first place in the NL Central.
With a few lucky breaks and some of their top young guys performing, they could potentially make things interesting in the Wild Card race.
On Sunday, it was announced that they are actually making a win-now move.
They called up middle infielder Matt McLain from Triple-A Louisville.
Yes, that’s right: they are bringing one of their best prospects to The Show.
“The Reds are calling up infield prospect Matt McLain according to the McLainBaseball Instagram account. Hit .346/.464/.713 with 12 HR in 37 Triple-A games. Adds a dynamic piece to the Reds lineup,” reporter Aram Leighton tweeted.
The Reds are calling up infield prospect Matt McLain according to the McLainBaseball Instagram account.
Hit .346/.464/.713 with 12 HR in 37 Triple-A games. Adds a dynamic piece to the Reds lineup. pic.twitter.com/Crc8eq1owU
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) May 15, 2023
McLain is their 2021 first-round draft pick, so what he did in Triple-A is backed up by some excellent baseball skills.
And what did he do in Triple-A Louisville? Well, he hit an incredible .348/.474/.710 with 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 173 plate appearances.
He is 23 years old and very much part of the Reds’ future alongside similarly talented prospects like Elly De La Cruz or Noelvi Marte.
He doesn’t have legendary power, yet he can clearly send lots of balls over the fence.
He is not a burner, yet he can accumulate plenty of steals if he wants to.
And he has also come a long way with his defense at shortstop.
The Reds have a keeper in McLain, and he is about to show the world what he can do.
NEXT:
The Reds Have A Powerful Prospect Waiting In The Minors
