CINCINNATI -- First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand is a hitter the Reds were hoping could do big things for their lineup this season. Although Encarnacion-Strand struggled at the plate before going on the 10-day injured list on April 17 with lower back inflammation, the right-handed slugger's bat should improve the roster now that he was activated on Friday.
Encarnacion-Strand, 25, started at first base on Friday vs. the Diamondbacks, and he made his contributions felt quickly with two hits including a big home run.
Arizona had a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Encarnacion-Strand hit a game-tying one-out solo homer to center field on a 1-0 breaking ball from reliever Cristian Mena. After the inning, play was suspended and the game will be resumed on Saturday at 2:10 p.m. ET.
To make room on the 26-man roster, third catcher Austin Wynns was designated for assignment.
Encarnacion-Strand batted .324 with a 1.095 OPS, two home runs, five doubles and seven RBIs over his 10-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. He batted .158 with a .481 OPS and two homers in 15 games before going on the IL.
“He was swinging a bat very well on his rehab while he was at Triple-A. If he’s able to stay in the strike zone, he’s got kind of silly power to all fields," manager Terry Francona said. "That would really be welcome. It maybe allows us to start moving [Spencer] Steer around a little bit because … he’s healthy enough to do it. So maybe it gives us a few more options.”
Steer, who started in left field on Friday, had been limited to designated hitter or first base over much of the first six weeks of this season because of a right shoulder issue.
Cincinnati had carried three catchers on the roster since Tyler Stephenson returned from the IL on May 2 because of concerns that Wynns could get claimed off waivers with a roster move.
Wynns batted .400 with a 1.142 OPS, three homers and 11 RBIs in 18 games, but he had played sparingly since Stephenson returned. His last start was on May 6, and he had only four plate appearances since.
If Wynns were to be claimed, it would mean he would get to stay in the big leagues.
“He deserves it," Francona said. "I would love to keep him in the organization, and we told him that. The guy deserves to be in the Major Leagues. He handled a really [crappy] thing really well.”
One reason Wynns had to come off the roster when Encarnacion-Strand returned is that shortstop Elly De La Cruz decided not to take advantage of the bereavement list option following the death of his sister, Genelis, on Saturday.
De La Cruz went home to the Dominican Republic following Wednesday's game and spent Thursday's off-day there. He was scheduled to fly back to Cincinnati in time for Friday's game, but a canceled connecting flight altered the plans.