Reds' Encarnacion-Strand needs surgery, likely out for season

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand will undergo surgery on his right hand/wrist on July 11, manager David Bell announced Tuesday, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Encarnacion-Strand is expected to need three months to recover following the procedure, reports Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. That timeline would mean he'd miss the rest of the regular season.

The 24-year-old fractured a bone in his hand when he was hit by a pitch on April 27, and he last played for the Reds in early May. Encarnacion-Strand also sustained ligament damage in his hand and wrist, which is what Bell said necessitated the surgery, per Wittenmyer.

The former top prospect started this year as Cincinnati's everyday first baseman but hit just .190/.220/.293 with two home runs in 29 games. As a rookie in 2023, Encarnacion-Strand burst onto the scene by posting a .805 OPS with 13 homers last summer.

Despite losing several key players to injuries this year, the Reds enter Tuesday sitting 2 1/2 games out of a National League wild-card spot.