Reds' Santiago Espinal: Draws start at second base Friday
Rotowire
Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Philadelphia.
Espinal, who was a prominent member of the third-base rotation while Noelvi Marte was on the 10-day injured list, was moved off the hot corner Friday with Marte's return. He drew the start at second base while Matt McLain served as the Reds' designated hitter, but Espinal's inclusion in the lineup was likely a byproduct of the Phillies sending a lefty starter (Jesus Luzardo) to the hill. The right-handed-hitting Espinal isn't expected to see regular playing time versus righties now that Marte is back in the fold.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Out of lineup again Monday
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Espinal is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest against the Yankees.
For the third time over the Reds' last four games, Espinal will find himself on the bench. On the first two occasions Espinal sat, Gavin Lux started at third base, but Christian Encarnacion-Strand will occupy the hot corner Monday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Sitting out Monday
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Espinal is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Brewers.
Espinal has been an everyday player for the Reds since late April but will get a day of rest for the series opener. Garrett Hampson will handle third base and bat ninth Monday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Enters as pinch hitter
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Espinal went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI in Monday's 7-4 win over Kansas City.
Espinal, who has been the primary third baseman since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list, opened Monday's game on the bench while Gavin Lux started at the hot corner. Espinal eventually entered as a pinch hitter, finished the game at third base, and delivered a pair of hits including a run-scoring double in the eighth inning. He entered the game batting .169 (11-for-65) with one RBI over his last 17 games.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: On bench for series opener
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Espinal is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.
Espinal has been a regular in the lineup at third base -- and in the two hole -- for Cincinnati since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the injured list. However, Espinal's bat has gone cold, as he's just 11-for-65 (.169 average) with two extra-base hits (both doubles) in his last 17 games. The 30-year-old longtime utility man will sit Monday in favor of Garrett Hampson, who will be making his first start in a Reds uniform.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Snaps RBI drought
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Espinal went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 4-1 win over Cleveland.
Espinal entered the contest batting .118 (4-for-34) with zero RBI over the previous nine contests. He's been the regular starter at third base since Noelvi Marte (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Marte's healing is going better than expected, per MLB.com, but he still has a way to go before returning. That means Espinal should continue to receive consistent playing time for at least the next two weeks.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Steals bag in loss
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Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to Houston.
The stolen base was the first of the season for Espinal, who logged 11 thefts in a part-time role for the Reds in 2024. He's been more of a regular in 2025, appearing in 31 of Cincinnati's 40 games to date. Friday's start was his fifth in a row at third base since Noelvi Marte (oblique) became unavailable. It was Espinal's 10th overall start, including outings at shortstop, left field and right field. With Austin Hays activated off the injured list Friday, that frees up Gavin Lux to usurp starts at the third base, but Espinal has been a valuable and productive piece and should maintain a semi-regular role.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Primed for everyday role
Rotowire
Espinal will start at third base and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against Atlanta.
Espinal will pick up his eighth straight start Wednesday and his third in a row at third base, which could be his primary home for the foreseeable future after Noelvi Marte was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 oblique strain. The 30-year-old Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his previous seven starts to lift his average up to .333 over 87 at-bats. Espinal could continue to occupy a spot in the heart of the lineup while he's swinging a hot bat and while the Reds are without multiple key hitters due to injuries.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Logs Reds' lone hit
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Espinal started at third base and went 1-for-3 in Monday's 4-0 loss to Atlanta.
The hot-hitting Espinal got the start over a slumping Noelvi Marte (3-for-22 in last six games) and extended his hit streak to six games. It was Cincinnati's lone hit. The versatile Espinal is 11-for-22 with two doubles and five RBI during the hot stretch.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in as left fielder
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Espinal started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Friday's 6-1 win over Washington.
Espinal started the last two games in left field and should help fill the void left by Austin Hays' hamstring injury, which landed him on the 10-day injured list. Espinal is expected to start in left against left-handers while Hays is unavailable, and Gavin Lux should start there against righties. Espinal will also move around as needed in the infield. He's batting .324/.385/.394 over 24 games (78 plate appearances) this season.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in at second base
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Espinal started at second base and went 2-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.
Espinal filled in for an injured Matt McLain (hamstring), who was available as a pinch hitter. That McLain entered the game suggests he might be ready to go Saturday. Espinal has appeared in six games this season while seeing time at second base, third base, left field and right field.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Two spring games, two XBH
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Espinal started at shortstop and went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against the Giants.
Espinal has appeared in two Cactus League games -- both at shortstop -- and made an impact in both. Prior to Sunday's triple, he homered in a split-squad game against the Brewers on Saturday. The 30-year-old utility infielder/outfielder was useful to the Reds in 2024, establishing career highs in home runs (nine) and steals (11), as the team dealt with injuries throughout the roster. Cincinnati re-signed him during the offseason, presumably with the intent of having him fill a similar role in 2025.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Inks deal with Cincy
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Espinal and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Espinal was traded from the Blue Jays to the Reds in March and had a .246/.295/.356 slash line with nine home runs and 11 steals in 118 games during 2024. He should fill a utility role for Cincinnati again in 2025.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Fills in at second base
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Espinal started at second base and went 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland.
Espinal filled in at second base for Jonathan India, who was held out of the starting lineup after clearing concussion protocol. Espinal's in a skid to end the season, going 4-for-37 (.108) over the 11 games, but he's been productive overall during the second half.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Slides to second base
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Espinal started at second base and went 0-for-4 in Monday's 1-0 win over Atlanta.
Espinal, who has been seeing regular duty at third base, moved over to second to cover for the injured Jonathan India (elbow), who was removed from Sunday's contest and absent from Monday's lineup. Espinal is 4-for-21 over the last six games, but his second-half body of work remains strong -- he's batting .358/.402/.514 over 33 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Pinch hits Saturday
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Espinal (shin) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 in a 5-4 loss to Milwaukee.
Espinal, who sustained an injury to his left shin during Friday's game, took infield practice prior to the game and was moving around, but he was held out of the starting lineup. Reds manager David Bell told MLB.com that they're trying to keep Espinal off his feet as much as possible and suggested the infielder may be able to play Sunday.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Remaining out Saturday
Rotowire
Espinal (shin) isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Espinal had to make an early exit from Friday's nightcap after fouling a ball off his left shin, and he'll take a seat for at least Saturday's game as he deals with some inflammation. His absence will open a spot in the lineup for Noelvi Marte to start at third base while batting eighth.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Maintaining regular lineup spot
Rotowire
Espinal will start in right field and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Espinal will pick up an eighth consecutive start after he recorded at least one hit in each of his previous seven contests while going 11-for-27 with three runs and three RBI. He's seen action at third base, second base, designated hitter and now right field over the last eight games, and the Reds should continue to carve out a regular spot in the lineup for Espinal while he's wielding a hot bat.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Extends hit streak
Rotowire
Espinal started at third base and went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Pirates.
Espinal delivered a two-run single that gave the Reds a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning. He's hit safely in six straight games, during which Espinal is 10-for-23 with three RBI and three runs. This continues a strong second half for the 29-year-old utility infielder. Espinal is batting .424/.452/.610 over 17 games since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Homers, swipes two bags
Rotowire
Espinal started in left field and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two stolen bases in Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Espinal has now started six of the last seven contests and will continue to vie for playing time at third base, especially with fellow third baseman Noelvi Marte struggling with a .488 OPS. The versatile Espinal has started at second base, shortstop, third base, left field and designated hitter this season, batting .243 with eight home runs, 30 RBI, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 77 games played.
