The Reds added another bat to the mix Monday, and this one comes with real power upside. Cincinnati called up Michael Toglia from Triple-A Louisville, activated Nick Lodolo from the 15-day injured list, transferred Hunter Greene to the 60-day injured list and optioned right-hander Zach McCambley back to Louisville. The club also sent infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson to Triple-A Louisville.
Toglia arrives after a strong run with the Bats and a rough season before that. The Rockies picked him 23rd overall in the first round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft, but in 2025 he hit just .190/.258/.353 with 27 extra-base hits. Cincinnati signed him to a minor league deal in January, and he’s answered with plenty of production in Louisville.
Across 97 games with Triple-A Louisville this season, Toglia has hit .273/.373/.547 with 49 extra-base hits, including 22 home runs. He’s also been showing a much sharper approach at the plate, chasing less than 25% of the time in Louisville, one of the lowest chase rates of his career.
That stands out even more because he’s seeing only 44% of pitches in the strike zone. Pitchers haven’t been giving him much to hit, and he still hasn’t been expanding the zone.
The Reds have been without a backup first baseman, and Toglia gives them another option there while also creating some flexibility for Sal Stewart. With Nathaniel Lowe traded at the deadline, Cincinnati’s offense has gone quiet, including a stretch where the Reds scored just six runs in a sweep by the Nationals in Washington.
Toglia brings switch-hitting balance, too. Against right-handed pitching, he’s slashing .288/.366/.560 with 16 home runs for Louisville. Against lefties, he’s hit .230/.391/.506 with six home runs.
Back in Spring Training, Toglia told Charlie Goldsmith he was focused on keeping things simple.
“I get a fresh slate and get to write my own history here,” Toglia told Goldsmith. “You learn from last year and move on.
It’s not the year I thought I was going to have. I adjusted the type of goals I set for this year.
Last year, my goals could have been more specific and not as numerical based. This year, I want to enjoy the game.
Dominate the day, that phrase will give me freedom that no matter how you’re feeling, you can dominate the day.”
Now he gets that chance with a Reds lineup that could use exactly the kind of pop he’s been providing in Louisville. Toglia should give Cincinnati a power threat off the bench and a path to push for more at-bats if he keeps hitting.
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