6:10pm: Bell conceded this night that McLain is not going to be accessible on Opening Day (by way of Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). He’s headed for a second opinion to find out the extent of the harm however now appears prone to at the least start the season on the injured checklist.
12:44pm: Reds infielder Matt McLain was scratched from the lineup Monday on account of some discomfort in his left shoulder, prompting the membership to have an MRI carried out. Whereas the workforce hasn’t divulged something conclusive but, supervisor David Bell offered an ominous replace Wednesday, telling the Reds beat that the MRI discovered “one thing” and that the workforce remains to be gathering data and figuring out tips on how to proceed (X hyperlink by way of Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). There’s an unusually broad vary of outcomes at this level, as Bell didn’t firmly rule out McLain for the Opening Day roster but in addition acknowledged that there’s a “risk” of shoulder surgical procedure.
The seventeenth total choose within the 2021 draft, the now-24-year-old McLain made his large league debut in 2023 and instantly made an influence. In 89 video games and 403 journeys to the plate, he slashed .290/.357/.507 (128 wRC+) with 16 homers, 23 doubles, 4 triples and 14 stolen bases (in 19 tries). His 7.7% stroll charge was a bit decrease than common, whereas his 28.5% strikeout charge was effectively north of common.
McLain had some luck on balls in play (.385 BABIP), although a few of that lofty BABIP is attributable to an enormous 24.2% line-drive charge and powerful 42.8% hard-hit charge. It’s nonetheless truthful to undertaking some regression in his efficiency, however even when he’s not hitting on the borderline star-caliber stage he did in 2023, McLain has the look of an on a regular basis fixture within the Reds’ lineup due each to his bat and his defensive versatility.
Although McLain was drafted as a shortstop, he break up hit time between the 2 center infield slots. Bell urged earlier in camp that McLain was likelier to concentrate on second base this season. Elly De La Cruz is anticipated to take the lion’s share of reps at shortstop, although McLain may slide to that facet of the bag within the occasion of additional harm troubles for De La Cruz.
The Reds have a famous infield surplus which was solely deepened once they signed Jeimer Candelario to a three-year deal over the winter. An 80-game PED suspension for promising 22-year-old Noelvi Marte has thinned out the perceived logjam a bit, and an absence for McLain would lend additional readability to the division of taking part in time across the diamond. Because it stands, Candelario seems lined up for normal work on the scorching nook, with De La Cruz at brief, McLain at second, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base and Spencer Steer in left subject. Former NL Rookie of the Yr Jonathan India has been anticipated to bounce between second base, first base and designated hitter, although he may definitely reclaim common taking part in time at second base if McLain heads to the injured checklist.
McLain picked up 140 days of main league service time in 2023, leaving him a bit greater than a month shy of a full yr (172 days). Meaning the Reds nonetheless have six full seasons of management over him, although he’ll very seemingly wind up reaching Tremendous Two standing and thus be eligible for arbitration 4 instances fairly than the usual three. The primary of these 4 offseasons of arbitration eligibility would fall after the 2025 marketing campaign. On his present trajectory, McLain wouldn’t qualify at no cost company till the 2029-30 offseason.