Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest Reds news
What else was spring training made for but to get our hopes up?
And Matt McLain is sure doing his part in that department. After an injury plagued 2024 and a disappointing 2025 he entered this season as perhaps the player Reds fans were most focused on. To many he was and is the pivotal player whose success might be a bellwether for the team itself.
If a guy like McLain could bounce back, imagine what else could be possible for this Cincinnati ballclub?
To be fair, he actually had a somewhat promising start to the 2025 spring. McLain hit a decent .255 with six doubles and a single home run while slugging .418. But in a preview of his regular season struggles he struck out 17 times in just 55 at bats as he worked hard to come back after his injury.
The beginning of his 2026 spring is starting to remove all doubt that he is, indeed, back.
He’s currently slugging 1.286 and has a ridiculous OPS of 1.9. The power he’s already displaying is to all fields and he’s only struck out once while walking three times. McLain’s eye has clearly improved as has his approach, especially his swing. So often last season he was woefully late on fastballs and chased them well out of the zone. His whiff rate was in the 25th percentile while his strikeout rate was truly horrendous in just the 6th percentile.
He already has amassed three home runs including two against the Cubs on Monday that traveled over 400 feet each. McLain’s hard-hit percentage was only in the 39th percentile in 2025 after being nearly in the 60th back in 2023, so he definitely has the ability to belt the ball. And that’s what he’s looking like he is working his way back to as the weather heats up.
While it remains to be seen just how long he can keep up his torrid hitting pace and .571 average, it seems we’ve seen enough of McLain’s scorching start that the doubts about his return to form grow smaller by the at bat.
Other Reds Impressive Starts
Matt McLain isn’t the only Cincinnati slugger whose fortunes appear to be turning.
Sal Stewart may be able to make a case for rookie of the year when all is said and done. In 14 at bats this spring he is hitting .429 and has a pair of home runs of his own while slugging .929.
Dane Myers is fighting for an outfield spot on the 2026 club and is hitting .455 with five runs batted in and a .571 on base percentage. His eye is key as he has yet to strike out in his 11 at bats.
