The Cincinnati Reds made a set of roster moves on Monday afternoon before the start of their road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds announced that they have activated third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Edwin Arroyo to Triple-A Louisville. The move for Arroyo was retroactive to yesterday.
Not only is Ke’Bryan Hayes activated today he’s in the starting lineup at third base and hitting 9th in the lineup. He was put on the injured list back on August 28th, with the move backdated to the day prior, with a left groin strain. He would miss 11 days while dealing with the injury.
For Hayes that was the second time he was on the injured list in 2026. Back in May he landed on the IL with a bulging disc in his back. He would miss seven weeks with that injury before he returned to the team on July 10th, right before the All-Star break.
Hayes is having the worst season of his career. When he landed on the injured list in May he was hitting just .142/.195/.225 on the season in 44 games played. After he returned from the stint on the IL he played in 34 more games and while he did hit better, he still didn’t hit. The third baseman posted a .171/.241/.289 line before he strained his groin.
As for Edwin Arroyo, he’s heading back to Triple-A. He spent the first two months of the year there before the Reds called him up and installed him mostly at second base. He struggled to do much hitting in the first two months of his time with Cincinnati and at the end of July he was hitting just .244/.286/.282 and the team optioned him to Louisville. Arroyo spent four weeks with the Bats before he was called back up to take over the open roster spot left by Hayes. He would play in six games and go 1-17 with a double and a walk. Now he’s headed back to the minor leagues to try and make some adjustments to get himself back to the big leagues.
Juan Brito does look more capable than Edwin.
Brito has never hit anywhere he’s played.
Highly likely that once pitchers get the “book” on him, he will be a worse hitter than Arroyo.
You must be looking at some other Brito, because that is simply not true.
The “book” is written and the catchers are using it every day he plays. Brito has been playing for 6.5 years so the book is already there. It gets changed and revised constantly like all “books” do as the batter makes adjustments to improve.
Didn’t see that move coming Sounds like Tito got some marching orders. Nevertheless hope he picks up a key hit tonight
Im not a Ke’Bryan hater but I just don’t get this move. Arroyo should get as many MLB at bats as he can get. Do they now feel Brito is a bigger part of their future than Edwin? I know Brito is having more success in 2026 but he is older and more experienced as well. but 2026 success at this point is a waste of time
Hayes has to have as much job security as someone with a lifetime appointment. I will preface by saying I am sure Hayes is a good man but a .150 avg. with no power is amazing. I know he has gold gloves but at some point if he could cover the entire field you still need people on or going around the bases. Maybe a hot streak can get him where the Mendoza line is. Where is Rick Rhoden for hitting coach? Sorry everyone my whining now ends.
No need to apologize, it was a very good comment.
Edwin Arroyo, Noelvi Marte, Ivan Johnson and Michael Toglia as Rece Hinds and CES previously are intriguing cases for the Reds since those guys smash Triple-A pitching but can’t figure it out in the big leagues. CES is hitting well now for the Orioles , we’ll see if he can be consistent… I still hope that could happen with Arroyo and Marte at some point with the Reds , especially Arroyo who is younger and maybe needs to have long playing time in the majors…
Defense lives and thrives in baseball. Just not here.
No, we all think defense matters. The problem with Hayes and his defense is that he is the worst hitter in mlb. There is 1 reason he was activated was simple, his contract. You can keep defending Hayes and claiming that noone here cares about defense. I know I care about winning games and he is not even close to being a starting 3rd baseman on any roster. His contract wins the day and we all know it but tell us how we are all wrong again.
It doesn’t have to be one way or the other Richard. You can value defense and still disagree with having Hayes in the lineup. Why does it have to be so polarized? Why can’t it be that some of us simply think his high defensive value does not overcome his lack of offensive value?
I’m entitled to my opinion without being polarizing as long as I give it respectfully and with some logic. Without any hitting, you don’t have the complete package to be a starter. A starter must do both to some extent. He can’t even be called on for a pinch hitter role. If you already have the lead (because someone else did all the hitting) and need to protect it, I can go along with putting in my better defense for the last several innings. Many of us have that coaching strategy.
I’m just here to see the replies after that error.
Hayes………just……….
Hayes has a three year contract for substantial money. Otherwise he doesn’t play.
Tito’s hands must have been bound. His batting average is .153
And somebody doesn’t care if the Reds win.
“Not only is Ke’Bryan Hayes activated today he’s in the starting lineup at third base and hitting 9th in the lineup.”
Ooooh Boy! hahaha smh
“Hayes is having the worst season of his career.
Our lineup WAS looking better. 😀
Bob Nightengale says he has heard from Baseball executives who feel the Reds will be next major league team sold.
I think Tito would much prefer Hayes over Arroyo. If neither are going to hit then at least one of them will give you above average defense.
Arroyo needs to work on making better swing decisions and that can only happen by getting regular bats which Louisville will provide.
As he became healthy, the Reds realistically only had 2 choices with Hayes. Activate him to the roster or DFA him. Realistically, what did we expect? We have had 1.5 years to make difficult decisions around Hayes, McLain, Marte, et al. Even with Arroyo and Brito beating down the door and essentially no playoff chances, we continue to roll with the 180 hitting, older, defensive guy. Doesn’t provide much hope does it that a different decision will be made this winter? When it comes to choosing spending vs losing, we always seem to choose losing.
agree 1000%
Hayes went on the IL in May and the team’s fortunes tanked. Coincidence?
The bullpen also suffered major, major injuries at the same time and that’s the biggest reason they tanked.
Yes, it’s coincidental, not causal.
Yes.
😀
Brito hit very well in AAA in 2024 .256/.365/.443 with 21 HRs in 652 plate appearances. He got off to a great start also in 2025 with AAA until April 17. He must have suffered a significant injury as he didn’t appear again in AAA until June 25 but with weak numbers and then was out the rest of the year after July 4. Yes, he struggled this year too, but it might have been due to lingering effects because I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him with the Reds now!
Re: 2025, “Brito struggled in spring training, then played just 31 games because of a string of injuries including thumb and hamstring injuries that both required surgery.”
–BA scouting report
We could write a long story of the things that have happened to other players to insure Hayes plays at third base when healthy.Sal was brought up 2 months late last year because of Hayes,Marte was moved to the outfield,Steer was moved to the outfield to make a spot for Sal even though Steer was a gold glove finalist.Sal rather then playing third has had to learn a new position in his rookie year while learning to hit big league pitching.Lowe a former gold glove winner at first was a bench player in the beginning and stayed that way until Hayes went on the IL.Lets not forget CES was a third base man and has played third with the Orioles this year.He is not a good one but serviceable to the Orioles it appears.Old saying is if you can hit they will find a place for you or is that if you can defend.Arroyo being sent down is minor compared to the others things I mentioned.Heck I hope Hayes does well tonight and for the rest of the season.
Good summary! It’s really over the top in what they’ve done to try and make this work for Hayes. He’s had incredible opportunity with the Reds and should be more loyal to the Reds than a good dog.
CES today 0-4 with a walk.Hinds started in center and went 2-2 with two walks.
I’m proud of Hinds then. Very much hope he can keep it up.
Cool Hinds is up!!!
Looking at the future Brito should be playing 3rd base tonight not Hayes.
Yawn, where would the Reds be without another.150 hitter. And BTW, Hayes isn’t likely to win a GG this season
In ST there seemed to be a back log of talent at third base. Hayes, a Gold Glove winner just needed to hit a little to be valuable; Suarez the power the line-up needed but could play 1B and DH too. Stewart could play 3B, and around the infield plus DH, and Steer in a pinch. Hayes can’t hit at all, Suarez can’t hit or play acceptable defense, Steer hurt, Stewart has to play third base. Third base has turned into a hole rather than a strength. Hayes and Suarez need to go.wrist injuries can ruin a career, so hopes are Steer can get back to full productivity, but that isn’t a given. Collier is always a possibility that it will just click for him. But bottom line it is a position of need this off season.