This prospect's loud contact is turning heads

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Among many things, Statcast can track exit velocity and barrels, but it can’t -- at least not yet -- measure the sound of contact. If that feature were ever to be added, it could be fun to track the noise when Reds corner infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand's bat connects with a baseball.

Encarnacion-Strand had a reputation for raw power when he arrived in the Aug. 2 trade that sent pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Twins. It has certainly been seen and heard this spring during his first big league camp.

• Box score: White Sox 6, Reds 4

“It’s always nice to show what I’m capable of, especially early," Encarnacion-Strand said of his power on Friday before the Reds played the White Sox.

The 23-year-old Encarnacion-Strand is ranked No. 7 in the organization by MLB Pipeline.

On Monday vs. Texas, Encarnacion-Strand ripped a third-inning, opposite-field double off the wall, and then on Wednesday against Oakland, attacked a high fastball for a booming grand slam to left field as part of a 10-run inning. Inclement weather had already mostly emptied Goodyear Ballpark, but the loudness of the contact was undeniable. The ball was clobbered.

“It feels good when it actually happens and we’re not just talking about it," Encarnacion-Strand said.

Encarnacion-Strand hit 32 homers with 114 RBIs in 122 games combined last season at High-A and Double-A. He also batted .304/.368/.587, showing that he has enough discipline to get on base.

In Friday’s 6-4 loss to the White Sox, Encarnacion-Strand entered at first base in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth, he fouled off a pair of 0-2 pitches before hitting a 1-2 pitch on the ground and through the hole on the left side for a leadoff single and later collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Overall, he's batting .625 (5-for-8) in nine spring games.

"He's got a really good approach at the plate," Reds manager David Bell said. "He's got power to the opposite field. The home run he hit to left [on Wednesday] was impressive, but some of the swings he's taken and the way the ball jumps off the bat to the opposite field is very impressive. We've all enjoyed our time with him. He's very serious, like he's got some determination and he wants to make the most of his time here and he wants to get to the big leagues as quick as he can."

Selected by Minnesota in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State, Encarnacion-Strand has moved up quickly. Mostly a third baseman in college and with the Twins' organization, he's got increasingly more time at first base since coming to the Reds and has played there in spring games.

“I’m learning to play first base more and more each day as they’re teaching me there," Encarnacion-Strand said. "I’m comfortable there. I need to learn more, day by day. That’s just baseball.”

More items from Friday at Reds camp
• In his second spring start, rotation candidate Luke Weaver didn't fare as well as in his strong first outing. Against Chicago, Weaver gave up five earned runs and six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He allowed one hit in a scoreless first inning before a big rally in the second that featured a three-run homer to left field by Andrew Vaughn on a 1-2 changeup.

"Working on some things. I did a bad job working on them," Weaver said. "It’s easy to look at the box score and get upset about it. Me and [pitching coach Derek Johnson] had a good talk. Going into the second inning, we were trying to land some curveballs. Obviously, we just kept missing with that. In a regular-season game I might do things differently because the name of the game is to get them out. But it still stinks. You want to do well."

• Another rotation candidate, pitching prospect Brandon Williamson, allowed a one-out solo homer by Yasmani Grandal in the third inning -- the only hit and run the lefty surrendered during his two innings.

“I really felt like that second inning, he was really into a flow out there," Bell said. "He came in and it felt like maybe he found something, because he was pitching with a lot of confidence. Both innings, but especially the second inning, it looked like he was just having fun out there.”

• Reliever Hunter Strickland, who was signed to a Minor League deal after camp opened, pitched a scoreless seventh inning with one hit in his spring debut.