The Reds’ season is sliding fast, and Tuesday’s loss to the Phillies only sharpened the picture. Cincinnati fell to 41-49, now eight games behind the final NL Wild Card spot, and with the August 3 trade deadline approaching, the roster could be headed for a major shakeup.
That kind of sell-off would create openings, and one of the biggest names waiting in the wings is Héctor Rodríguez. The outfield prospect kept hammering Triple-A pitching on Tuesday night, powering the Louisville Bats to a 5-4 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers with a two-homer night.
Rodríguez opened the scoring in the first inning with a 381-foot shot to right-center that left the bat at 100.9 mph. It was his 20th homer of the 2026 season.
He wasn’t finished there. In the third inning, he went deep again, this time on a 392-foot drive with a 100.8 mph exit velocity.
Excuse me.. 21 HOMERS FOR HÉCTOR pic.twitter.com/25jPP3h95f
- Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) July 7, 2026
At this point, plenty of Reds fans are asking the same question: what more does Rodríguez have to prove in the minors? Once the deadline passes, Cincinnati’s roster figures to look different, and there may not be much reason to keep the 22-year-old at Triple-A after August 3.
There was also movement on the injury front for Ke'Bryan Hayes. The third baseman, who started a rehab assignment last week at High-A Dayton, moved up to Triple-A on Tuesday and finished 1-for-4 with a double into left field in the first inning.
Hayes has been out since May 22 because of a bulging disc in his back. His start before the injury was rough, as he hit .142/.195/.225, but he reportedly worked on swing adjustments at the team’s training complex in Arizona. Reds manager Terry Francona said there is no definite timetable for his return.
As for Graham Ashcraft, he’s making steady progress after suffering a sprained UCL. Cincinnati put him on the 60-day IL on May 29, which means the earliest possible return is the end of July, though August remains the more likely window.
During Tuesday’s broadcast, Reds.TV reporter Jim Day said Ashcraft has started a throwing program and is already up to playing catch at 90 feet. The right-hander is expected to take his rehab to the desert later this week and continue building up at the team’s facility in Goodyear.
In Other News...
Reds May Back Away From One Deadline Gamble For A Bigger Reason
The Reds have not tipped their hand ahead of the trade deadline, but the bigger picture around the league may be doing some of the talking for them. With future collective bargaining talks looming and the possibility of a salary cap in the mix, some front offices are already treating prospects as even more valuable than usual, which could make teams like Cincinnati think twice before parting with young talent for a short-term upgrade.
If the Reds drift out of the race, the more obvious move would be to shop players on expiring contracts rather than dip into the farm system. Around the league, names such as Nathaniel Lowe, Brady Singer, Pierce Johnson and Eugenio Surez are the kind of pieces that could change hands, but Cincinnati also has reason to be cautious after last years deadline misfire and may prefer to avoid another costly swing unless the rosters health and standings give it a clearer path. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Fans Will Love Where Lenny Harris Just Popped Up
Lenny Harris turned up in an unexpected place recently, with Fox analyst Darren Fletcher bringing him up during a FIFA World Cup broadcast. For Reds fans, it was a nice reminder that Harris big-league story began in Cincinnati, where he debuted in 1988 before carving out a long career as one of the games most specialized hitters.
Harris still stands as the greatest pinch-hitter in MLB history, finishing with 212 pinch-hits across 18 seasons and eight teams. He also once explained the work behind that role, describing how he stayed ready with a routine built around staying loose and keeping his timing sharp, the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that helps explain how a player like that lasts. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Came Closer To Kyle Schwarber Than Fans Realized
Kyle Schwarbers offseason conversations with the Reds were more serious than many fans probably realized, and the Cincinnati front office at least got a real look at the possibility of bringing the former fan favorite back to town. Schwarber said the talks were honest and reflected genuine interest from the organization, a reminder that the Reds were in the mix before he ultimately stayed with Philadelphia.
For Cincinnati, the timing only adds to the what-if factor because Schwarber is again producing at a level that makes every missed chance sting a little more. He also made clear he still has respect for the Reds after those discussions, which leaves the door open emotionally even if the roster move never happened. Meanwhile, Andrew Abbott is quietly approaching a notable milestone of his own, sitting six starts shy of a mark no Reds left-handed pitcher has reached since Tom Browning in 1994. [Read more 🡒]