RADIO
BALLER MOVE: Target in drafts ~pick 114
CURRENT ADP: ~156
ANALYSIS: Cincinnati Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand earned his call-up after crushing 52 long balls over a year and a half in the minors. He didn't disappoint the Reds by batting .270 with 13 HRs, a 48.4% hard-hit rate, and .476 xSLG, putting him in the top 30 of qualified hitters in the expected slugging percentage.
He can flat-out rake and becomes even more appealing playing half his games in the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Is that enough for the Reds to give CES everyday playing time? Noelvi Marte was suspended 80 games for PEDs, opening up more playing time for CES. Before the suspension, the big righty had to share 1B and DH with switch-hitting Jeimer Candelario and Jonathan India, who has been shopped around again this offseason.
Candelario will handle third base duties, while Encarncion-Strand will handle first base with Marte suspended. Playing time may be frustrating when Marte returns from suspension. However, by July, there's a high probability that multiple players will be either injured, traded, or slumping. Most importantly, he controls his destiny, meaning that if he produces when given the chance, they'll have to insert him into the lineup daily.
ATC projects Encarncion-Strand to slash .266/.325/.491 with 26 home runs over 122 games. CES has an NFBC ADP of 132, slightly later than RotoBaller's overall ranking of 117. Expect Encarncion-Strand's ADP to rise with the Marte suspension, and he is excellent mid-round value heading into 2024 fantasy baseball drafts.
That sound off CES' bat 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/iMKptWYe76
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) March 13, 2024
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