As the Cincinnati Reds get energized by young talent, an exuberant prospect made his presence felt in a massive way. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, an infielder in the Reds’ farm system, blasted a moonshot home run on Saturday night. The impressive young hitter slammed the ball all the way past the batter’s eye and over 465 feet.
The Louisville Bats, the team Encarnacion-Strand plays for in Triple-A, squared up with the Toledo Mud Hens. Encarnacion-Strand’s homer took Mud Hen left-handed pitcher and Detroit Tigers prospect Sam Clay deep. And we mean really deep.
“Out of here. Never coming back. Gone. CES is that dude,” the Louisville Bats boasted on Twitter following the homer.
467 feet❗️
Out of here. Never coming back. Gone.
CES is that dude 😨 pic.twitter.com/bG3yLZ9VYB
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) July 9, 2023
The blast was as majestic as it was impressive. And as it turns out, it was one of two homers the prospect hit Saturday night.
As of right now, CES is the fourth-highest-ranked prospect in the Reds’ farm system that is not at the Major League level. Leading the way is Noelvi Marte, a catcher the Reds acquired in their big trade last season that sent starting pitcher Luis Castillo to Seattle. Encarnacion-Strand checks in behind Marte, shortstop Edwin Arroyo, and third baseman Cam Collier.
As you can imagine, the moonshot homer caught a lot of onlookers’ attention. The video of the home run by Christian Encarnacion-Strand went viral on Saturday night. Nearly everyone who came across it was left in awe of the blast.
CALL. HIM. UP.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit one 467 ft OVER the batter's eye 🤯
(via @LouisvilleBats)pic.twitter.com/I01KJ2h6nP
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 9, 2023
Christian Encarnacion-Strand has homered for the SECOND time tonight! #Reds
467 feet
110.6 mph pic.twitter.com/p2vqKXzzL3— OnBaseMachine (@RedsFan_Brandon) July 9, 2023
Christian Encarnacion-Strand just hit this ball 467 FEET 😵 #Reds #FUTURE pic.twitter.com/81gmSBBW3u
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) July 9, 2023
That one's WAY out of here for Christian Encarnacion-Strand!
The No. 6 @Reds prospect hit this one 443 feet for the @LouisvilleBats. pic.twitter.com/QDYUdtq4Vg
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 9, 2023
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 467 foot TANK SHOT
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) July 9, 2023
Christian Encarnacion-Strand with HR #19 at 443 feet and 108.5 mph off the bat.
It’s wild but it feels like CES is flying under the radar now in part to all the young hitters flourishing at the MLB level. This kid could hit 40 home runs at the MLB level and be a .900 OPS bat. https://t.co/DbZWkYZeDt
— OnBaseMachine (@RedsFan_Brandon) July 9, 2023
Christian Encarnacion-Strand goes OVER the batters eye for his second homer of the night pic.twitter.com/xcjgRYK6jq
— Bats Media Relations (@LouBatsPR) July 9, 2023
