Heading into Thursday, it was clear that Cincinnati Reds prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand was dangerous with the bat. He entered Thursday’s game with four home runs and a .410/.452/.769 slash line.
Those numbers are only better now.
In his first at-bat for the Louisville Bats (the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) in Thursday’s game against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), Encarnacion-Strand launched a two-run homer.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand to the party patio tent 🎉
The @Reds' No. 6 prospect drills one 423 feet for the @LouisvilleBats. pic.twitter.com/ywrQWmSgVM
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 4, 2023
That 423-foot blast was just the beginning. Encarnacion-Strand launched another two-run blast in the third inning.
CES RAKED THAT ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE SCOREBOARD❗️ pic.twitter.com/0iF52rnXmY
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) May 5, 2023
Minor League Baseball’s Twitter account noted that the two home runs went a combined 875 feet. The first went 423 feet while the second traveled 452 feet.
And he still was not done.
In the ninth inning, Encarnacion-Strand came up for what would be his final at-bat of the game. He hit his third home run.
CES. 3 homer night. Are we even living in reality? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CXxRwl8Hoz
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) May 5, 2023
The MiLB account tweeted that his three homers went a combined 1,260 feet. So, his final homer only traveled 385 feet, but still cleared the wall with plenty of room to spare.
Additionally, Encarnacion-Strand’s Louisville teammate, Matt McLain hit for the cycle.
That led to a familiar narrative among baseball fans on Twitter on Thursday night. These guys should not be in Louisville for much (if any) longer.
CES THREE HOME RUN NIGHT 🔥
BRING THE BOYS UP pic.twitter.com/XjdCV0rLua
— Votto De La Cruz (@EvilJoeyVotto) May 5, 2023
I’m sick and tired of Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand being in AAA.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that these guys aren’t in Cincy tomorrow.
— Reds in Four (@RedsInFour) May 5, 2023
Matt McLain.
Cycle watch.1B needed. It's the 5th.
Matt has a double, triple, and a homer.
They can't keep him & CES in AAA man. These guys are a top 5 player for the Reds major league team right now. This is silly. They look silly playing in AAA. #Reds
— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) May 5, 2023
The #Reds major league shortshop & first base positions:
SS:
-5 DRS in total, bad defensively
Barrero: 53 wRC+ .221/.291/.312
Newman: 43 wRC+ .219/.247/.3151B, in whole: .214/.239/.413
SS, in whole: .193/.244/.257I have nothing holding McLain & even CES back. It’s time.
— Nati Sports (@Nati_Sports) May 5, 2023
Get McLain and CES on the next flight out of Omaha. They have nothing else to show in the minor leagues.
If I have to watch the same lineup much longer, I'm gonna go nuts.
These guys are our future. #Reds
— Bryce Spalding (@bryce_spalding) May 5, 2023
Through Thursday’s play, Encarnacion-Strand is slashing at .432/.468/.955 with seven home runs. What kind of player he’ll be in the Majors, of course, remains to be seen. But it doesn’t seem like there’s much more for him to do at Triple-A.
[Louisville Bats, Photo Credit: Minor League Baseball]
