Cincinnati's unplanned takeover of the Baltimore Orioles dugout

The Cincinnati Reds’ player development operation is getting a rare moment of spotlight even as the club struggles across major league categories and heads into winter without planning a major overhaul of baseball operations. Much of the positive attention centers on Elly De La Cruz, who is producing his best baseball of his still-young career. But the Reds’ offense has been inconsistent, and in four of their last six games they were either shut out or De La Cruz drove in the only run. That frustration preceded Baltimore’s decision to feature Rece Hinds leadoff and Christian Encarnacion-Strand cleanup, with CES homering off Sean Manaea in his first plate appearance. CES is hitting .266/.317/.485 with 9 homers and 10 doubles across 184 PA and is a regular at third base for the Orioles. Baltimore is 74-78, yet they’ve found value in a young, controllable player Cincinnati previously moved—reportedly tied to the wrist injury that disrupted his 2023 swing and the differing roles the organizations chose.