The Cincinnati Reds farm system is missing quite a few prospects as it enters the third week of the season. Injuries haven’t exactly been kind to the organization, but there’s some good news on the horizon for a handful of guys who have been out in Arizona working their way back.
Elly De La Cruz could arrive in Louisville on Thursday as long as there is nothing that alters that in the next 24 hours. He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury over the last few weeks after injuring it in minor league camp in mid-March. The Reds #1 prospect won the organizational triple crown last season after hitting .304/.359/.586 with 31 doubles, 9 triples, 28 home runs, and 47 stolen bases.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is expected to join Louisville soon, likely on Tuesday when they begin their road trip to Iowa. He’s been dealing with a slight herniated disc in his back since mid-March. After crushing the ball in spring training to the tune of .577/.556/1.192 he was sent to minor league camp where shortly thereafter his back issues flared up on him.
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Yerlin Confidan should be back on the field as soon as this weekend, but perhaps it will be the start of next week’s series. After winning the MVP of the Arizona Complex League in 2021 where he hit .315/.359/.573 with a league best 11 home runs, Confidan missed most of 2022 when he was playing with Daytona.
Ruben Ibarra is still progressing back from a hamstring injury he suffered early on in minor league camp, but is probably a week or two away from joining Dayton, where he’s currently listed on their injured list.
Chase Petty is still throwing bullpen sessions out in Arizona as he recovers from an elbow injury. There’s a chance he could return before May, but is more likely to find his way onto a roster in early May as long as things continue to progress as expected.