Reds' star infielder with .545 batting average this spring could be on cusp of breakout

This upcoming season, the Cincinnati Reds are looking to turn their recent struggles around. It won't be easy, especially with the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and even the Pittsburgh Pirates looking like legitimate playoff contenders.

If the Reds want to compete, they will need a player or two to break out this upcoming season. And if there were one player on the cusp of a breakout, it would be an infielder who is hitting .545 this spring training across 44 at-bats.

ESPN's Buster Olney posed the question, "Could this be a breakout season for Matt McLain?" With how good he's looked this spring, and the confidence from the Reds brass, there's reason to believe McLain is on the verge of a breakout season.

Reds' Matt McLain on verge of breakout year

"It has been a fun watch," Terry Francona said in a text message. "He used the entire field way better, so he has cut down on his swing-and-miss. The ball comes off his bat way better than you would think of someone his size."

While the bigger the player, the more power they produce, as seen with Elly De La Cruz, that doesn't mean a "smaller" player can't have great offensive prowess.

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Matt McLain is one of the better hitters in baseball so far this spring, hitting .545 with a ridiculous 1.637 OPS across 44 at-bats. He has six home runs and is using all parts of the field.

While his 2025 season wasn't great after missing all of 2024 due to a shoulder injury, there is plenty of optimism for McLain heading into what will be his third season in the Major Leagues.

More: Reds’ Hunter Greene to be out until July amid brutal injury news

Francona wasn't the only one to acknowledge what McLain has done this spring. Reds general manager Nick Krall was also optimistic about McLain.

"This is his second playing season after his shoulder injury, and he's feeling good and comfortable in camp," Krall said. "He is taking good at-bats, and his swing is direct to the ball."

The production from McLain in his rookie season was encouraging, but now, with his very strong spring training leading up to the 2026 MLB season, there is plenty of optimism that McLain could have his big breakout season.

The 26-year-old Reds infielder with a .545 batting average this spring looks to be on the cusp of a breakout, which would be huge for the Reds' postseason chances in 2026.

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