The Reds are sending Matt McLain to Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment, giving the infielder a chance to work his way back after sitting out since July 10 with a left calf strain. The injured-list move was retroactive to July 8, which means McLain is now eligible to be activated at any point after spending at least 10 days on the IL.
One name notably missing from the update is Blake Dunn. Earlier this week, Jim Day of Redstv said during the broadcast that Dunn and McLain were expected to fly into Detroit and then drive to Toledo to join the Bats, with Dunn set to start his rehab assignment on Thursday.
That never happened, and today’s announcement only mentioned McLain. Given that, it appears something may have come up with Dunn’s elbow injury, delaying his return to the batter’s box and the field.
For McLain, this has been a rough stretch in a rougher run of years. He broke out in 2023 as a rookie, then missed all of 2024 after injuring his shoulder in spring training and undergoing surgery.
He came back in 2025 and played almost every day, but the production never followed: he hit .220 with a .643 OPS. This year has been even tougher.
In 83 games, he’s batting just .190 with a .622 OPS.
The glove has still held up. McLain remains a reliable second baseman, and Cincinnati has also used him at shortstop when Elly De La Cruz gets a half-day as the designated hitter. Over the last month or so, he’s even logged a few innings in center field, a position he played as a freshman at UCLA.
But the defense hasn’t been enough to make up for the lack of offense. That eventually cost him his everyday role, and the Reds tried to work him into more of a utility spot before the calf injury interrupted that plan and sent him to the injured list.
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