RADIO
Hector Rodriguez Remains an Intriguing Power Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 124 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .224/.274/.379 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss has been an issue for Rodriguez early in his big-league career, as he's struck out in 25.8% of his trips to the plate. His underlying batted-ball metrics don't leap off the page either, as he's posted just a 6.0% barrel rate and a 33.3% hard-hit rate. However, Rodriguez showcased high-end power upside in the minors this season, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances with Triple-A Louisville. He's also emerged as the everyday right fielder in Cincinnati, which figures to continue as the Reds try to evaluate their roster ahead of 2027. For fantasy managers searching for power potential on the waiver wire, Rodriguez is a logical target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hector Rodriguez a High-Upside Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 102 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .266/.324/.457 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss is a red flag in the 22-year-old's profile, as he's struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances. With middling barrel (7.7%) and hard-hit (33.8%) rates, Rodriguez's underlying batted-ball metrics at the big-league level are not amazing either. However, the young outfielder put up monster power numbers in the minors this season before getting promoted, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances at Triple-A. He's also taken over as the Reds' everyday right fielder and should get an extended run to prove himself as the season winds to a close. Fantasy managers in search of power upside on the waiver wire may want to target Rodriguez.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JJ Bleday a Fine Source of Power Off the Waiver Wire
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday may only be hitting .230 (70-for-304) on the year in 86 games and 361 plate appearances, but he reached the 20-homer mark for the second time in the last three seasons in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Athletics and is worth waiver-wire consideration down the stretch in fantasy baseball leagues if you need power. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has had a resurgence in 2026 in his first season in Cincinnati, and he has also dropped his strikeout rate from 26.5% last year to 21.3% this year while posting a career-best 14.4% walk rate. The former fourth overall pick by the Miami Marlins in 2019 from Vanderbilt University has hit under .200 with just five of his 20 homers on the year, and although he hit just over the Mendoza Line in 25 games in July, he did manage to hit six home runs in the month. Bleday definitely has his flaws, but fantasy managers shouldn't ignore his power from the left side. He's currently rostered in only 26% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Reds Promote Top Outfield Prospect Hector Rodriguez After Stellar Triple-A Showing
Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said the team is planning to promote outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez to the big leagues on Tuesday, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. Rodriguez has put together a dominant season at Triple-A Louisville so far in 2026, hitting .274/.347/.533 with 27 home runs, 69 RBI, 72 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 455 plate appearances. The 22-year-old is considered one of the top prospects in the Reds system and has the potential to be a five-category fantasy contributor. He could also be in line for an everyday role in Cincinnati with Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (wrist) currently on the injured list due to a wrist injury. In any league where he remains available, Rodriguez profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target.
Source: Beisbol FR - Francys Romero
Source: Beisbol FR - Francys Romero
Hector Rodriguez Developing into Power Source at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez is coming off a four-hit performance at Triple-A Louisville, complete with a home run and three RBI. It was the latest power surge in a season-long display of power hitting for the outfielder. Rodriguez has turned in a season of 27 homers and 69 RBI with 72 runs scored in 405 at-bats with Louisville to go with a .274 batting average. At 22 years old, Rodriguez is the No. 3 prospect in the Reds' organization. Rodriguez has a 55-grade hit tool with a 55-grade run tool. He has become a consistent power source in Louisville, although he only has 45-grade power. The Reds could use a bat like his in the big league lineup, so it might be worth stashing Rodriguez and waiting for a call-up. If given an opportunity in Cincinnati, he could easily produce fantasy-relevant numbers.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
JJ Bleday Belongs on More 12-Team Rosters
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday is batting .231/.339/.470 with 18 home runs, 45 RBI, 40 runs, and six stolen bases through 331 plate appearances. The average is still a weakness, but a .260 expected mark suggests he has deserved better. More importantly, Bleday's 10.8% barrel rate, 42.1% hard-hit rate, and .468 expected slugging percentage support the power that has kept him in the heart of Cincinnati's lineup. Bleday has started regularly in the corner outfield and offers enough walks and occasional speed to contribute beyond home runs. Yahoo managers have left him unclaimed in 74% of leagues, even though he ranks 49th in RotoBaller's Week 18 waiver rankings with an add recommendation for 12-team formats. He is not a batting-average asset, but managers seeking power and run production should not leave him available at that league depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hector Rodriguez Slugs Home Run No. 25 as MLB Debut Looms
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez launched his 25th home run of the Triple-A season on Tuesday night. Facing Indianapolis, the slugger went 1-for-4 with a long ball. While the No. 5-ranked prospect in the system has had a relatively quiet July, going just 7-for-51 with two home runs and a low .460 OPS, prior to this short skid, the outfielder carried a .292/.372/.566 line with a .938 OPS over his first 85 games of the season. During this noted stretch, Rodriguez launched 23 home runs while adding 14 doubles and swiping six bags. While there is not a clear path to playing time, if Rodriguez can enjoy another power binge, he could push the team's hand. For now, he remains a solid stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues for those needing some late-season power.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Spencer Steer Removed Due to Hand Injury
Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (hand) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Steer appeared to have tweaked his hand after he fouled off a pitch during the fifth inning. He was visited by the training staff and pulled from the contest mid-at-bat. Before leaving the game, Steer was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate. The expectation is that Steer will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. For now, fantasy managers should consider Steer as day-to-day. There should be another update on his status ahead of Monday's game against the Cleveland Guardians.
Source: Jeff Jones
Source: Jeff Jones
Hector Rodriguez Could be Impact Addition for the Reds
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has surprised a bit with his consistent power in his age-22 season at Triple-A Louisville. Rodriguez has tallied 24 homers in 374 at-bats with 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and a .275 batting average. Given 45-grade power by scouts, Rodriguez has surpassed expectations with his power this season. He is now the No. 3 prospect in the Reds' system. The Dominican Republic native could be a late-season addition to the Reds in the outfield. The left-handed-hitting bat could add some pop to the Cincinnati outfield, and with Blake Dunn currently on the injured list, there could be an opening for Rodriguez at the big-league level. Rodriguez should produce solid numbers if promoted and would be a good addition to fantasy teams over the second half of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Spencer Steer A Waiver Option for Power Despite Recent Hitless Stretch
Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer returned on Wednesday from a rib injury he suffered on Monday and went 0-for-4 at the plate in the 5-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Steer is now hitless in his last 11 at-bats, but the 28-year-old has been much better so far in July than he was in June, when he hit just .159 (13-for-82) with a .629 OPS, six home runs, a double, 13 RBI, 14 runs scored, nine walks, and 28 strikeouts in 24 games played. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger is currently batting .259 (14-for-54) with an .818 OPS, three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, and six runs scored in 16 games and 62 plate appearances in July. Steer is up to 16 home runs in 96 games across 378 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year with the Reds, and he offers under-the-radar power in a hitter-friendly home environment in deeper fantasy leagues for managers who are searching for more pop. Now that Steer is over his recent rib injury, hopefully he will begin to put his power stroke on display once again. He's currently rostered in only 36% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
JJ Bleday Emerges as Interesting Power Option
Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday hasn't exactly been tearing the cover off the ball lately, but that doesn't mean he's not offering fantasy value. Over the last two weeks, Bleday has only recorded nine hits, but three of those were home runs. The 28-year-old has already surpassed last year's season total of 14 homers, and we just started the second half of the season. Through 72 games, Bleday has 16 home runs with 43 RBI and 41 walks. He's not going to hit for average, but fantasy managers looking for power or help with walks should consider adding Bleday. There is a very good chance that he sets a new career high in home runs this season.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Hector Rodriguez Finding Power Stroke at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has been a consistent power source at Triple-A Louisville this season with 24 homers and 61 RBI, 67 runs scored, and a .280 batting average. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter has been steady all season and could force his power bat to a big league promotion. Rodriguez is the Reds' No. 4 overall prospect and has had at least five homers in each calendar month this season. He doesn't profile as a big, intimidating presence in the batter's box at just 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he excels with his bat speed and has translated that to power numbers in the minors this season. Rodriguez makes for a nice speculative add in deep leagues this season as he continues to mash at Triple-A. This could be the year for his big league debut, and he could reward fantasy managers for taking a shot on him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Recent Power Binge Puts Hector Rodriguez on the Doorstep of Major Leagues
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has enjoyed a power binge at the Triple-A level and is making a strong case to earn the call to the big leagues. Over his last 12 games at Triple-A Louisville, the 22-year-old has gone deep five times and added a double. During this stretch, Rodriguez has carried a .286/.375/.667 with a 1.042 OPS. Rodriguez has spent the entire 2026 campaign at the Triple-A level and has continued to flash elite power potential, going deep 23 times while posting a strong .280/.360/.538 line with a .898 OPS. Given his current pace, it appears Rodriguez seems well-positioned to join the Reds down the stretch. With recent reports suggesting the Reds are looking to sell expiring contracts at the trade deadline, Rodriguez's call to the big leagues should happen sooner rather than later.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Spencer Steer Clubs Two Homers, an Ascending Source of Power
Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer got his second half started on the right foot in the team's 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field on Friday night. Steer took advantage of the thin air in Denver to go 2-for-4 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger is now batting .250/.330/.441 on the year with 16 home runs and 40 RBI in 362 plate appearances in his fifth year in Cincy. Steer is in just the 41st percentile in hard-hit rate in 2026, but he also sits in the 81st percentile in barrel rate, the 76th percentile in expected slugging, and the 74th percentile in xwOBA. He's also in the 77th percentile in xISO and is well on his way to setting a new career high in home runs this season with 16 through his first 92 games -- his career high was set in 2023 with 23 long balls. Steer isn't going to wow with his batting average or on-base skills, but the power is real in a hitter-friendly home environment. Fantasy managers seeking power need to add him off the waiver wire now. Steer is only rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hector Rodriguez Still Trending Up at Triple-A, a Top Stash for Power?
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez produced a strong first half at Triple-A Louisville, finishing 11-for-33 (.333) with five home runs over his final nine games before the break. For the season, the Reds' fifth-ranked prospect is slashing .284/.364/.546 with 23 home runs and six steals for the Bats. The left-handed hitter spent 53 games at Louisville last year, and though his strikeout rate increased from 16.5 percent to 20.2 percent from 2025 to 2026, his walk rate also increased from 5.2 percent to 10.4 percent, with both stats now sitting right around the Triple-A average. Though he logged at least 12 steals each season from 2022 through 2025, it isn't something fantasy managers looking for a stash option should count on, but his power is. With a barrel rate of 10.6 percent (81st percentile) and a max exit velocity of 113.7 mph (96th percentile), the power is legit. Fantasy managers in deeper 12-team leagues should consider stashing the 22-year-old who could help with home runs and RBI upon his call-up, which could happen by mid-August.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
