Reds Fantasy Baseball Draft Preview | Elly De La Cruz, Alexis Diaz, Matt McLain, Hunter Greene, Spencer Steer and More

The fantasy baseball season is closing in quickly. FantasySP has published a number of articles relating to 2024 fantasy baseball draft prep and will continue to do so through the start of the MLB season.

Recently, we’ve been looking at things on a team-by-team basis. Those articles can be found at the links below:

American League - Texas Rangers (hitters and pitchers), Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros (hitters and pitchers), Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays (hitters and pitchers), Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays

National League - Los Angeles Dodgers (hitters and pitchers), Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves (hitters and pitchers), Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks (hitters and pitchers), San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies

Now, we’ll take a look at the Cincinnati Reds.

Get ready for draft season! Check out our Mock Draft Simulator, Average Draft Position list and Draft Genius!

Top Fantasy Hitters

The first Cincinnati player off the FantasySP Average Draft Position list is Elly De La Cruz, ranking 71st overall with a mark of 74.68.

De La Cruz showed flashes of brilliance during his rookie season, tallying a .235 average and .300 on-base percentage across 98 games. He had 91 total hits, 35 of which went for extra bases (13 homers), 44 RBIs, 35 stolen bases and 67 runs scored.

His 162-game averages at that pace are pretty great fantasy numbers. You’d like to see his average increase, but if he continues to display pop and speed, he can make up for a lower average. 

He’s the sixth shortstop off fantasy boards, and if he plays the full season, he’s got a chance to be a top-five fantasy player at the position, so I like how things are looking for him. If you draft De La Cruz, just make sure you have a good backup shortstop in place in case he misses extended time again.

Matt McLain is the team’s next hitter on the ADP list, ranking 99th with a mark of 104.47.

He played 89 games in his first taste of the MLB last season. McLain had a .290 average, .357 OBP, 106 total hits, 50 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 65 runs scored. He clubbed 16 homers among his 43 extra-base hits.

His 162-game averages at that pace would be elite and would make him a huge draft steal if he can deliver. McLain should have the opportunity to deliver big numbers hitting in the heart of the team’s lineup, so I’m fine even taking him a round or two before his current ADP. He should have SS and 2B eligibility, so that’s another plus for McLain.

Spencer Steer is next up, ranking 110th with a mark of 117.68.

In his first full season in the bigs, Steer had a .271 average, .356 OBP, 158 total hits, 86 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 74 runs. He homered 23 times among his 63 extra-base hits.

Steer could have eligibility at 1B, 3B, 2B and LF, which definitely boosts his fantasy value. I think he’s being massively undervalued right now and think he’s got a chance to be a pretty big draft steal if he can replicate or get close to last year’s numbers - he’s another guy I’d have no problem taking a round or two before his ADP. He can start at any of the positions I already mentioned or be a super utility guy that you plug in at whatever spot is lacking for you. 

Outfielder TJ Friedl is next up, ranking 163rd with a mark of 154.21.

Across 138 games last season, Friedl tallied a .279 average, .352 OBP, 136 total hits, 66 RBIs, 27 stolen bases and 73 runs scored. He homered 18 times among his 48 extra-base hits.

He should hit leadoff for the Reds, giving him lots of opportunities to score and steal bases, along with driving in some runs if the bottom of the order can produce somewhat consistently. Friedl is a good final starting fantasy OF or utility starter - he could become a good trade chip if he puts up similar numbers to last year.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand is ranked 191st with a mark of 172.83.

He played 63 games in his first MLB season in 2023, posting a .270 average, .328 OBP, 60 total hits, 37 RBIs and 29 runs. CES homered 13 times among his 20 extra-base hits.

Those marks averaged out over a full season leave Encarnacion-Strand with great fantasy stats. Much like the rest of the team’s hitters, I feel he’s sliding under the radar a bit and provides great value for his current ADP. I see him as a strong backup 1B option, with the chance to start at a utility/infield spot most of the season.

Jonathan India, Jeimer Candelario and Noelvi Marte are all ranked near each other. India ranks 232rd with a mark of 202.73, Candelario ranks 235th with a mark of 205.42 and Marte ranks 236th with a mark of 205.6.

Candelario played in 140 games in stints with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in 2023, finishing with a .251 average, .336 OBP, 127 hits, 70 RBIs, eight stolen bases and 77 runs scored. He homered 22 times among his 63 extra-base hits.

India appeared in 119 games for the Reds, finishing with a .244 average, .338 OBP, 111 total hits, 61 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 78 runs scored. He homered 17 times among his 40 extra-base hits.

Marte played in 35 games, tallying a .316 average, .366 OBP, 36 total hits, 15 RBIs, six stolen bases and 15 runs scored. He homered three times among his 10 extra-base hits.

India and Candelario are good backup fantasy infielders that could start at utility/infield spots most of the season. Marte would have been the same, but was suspended 80 games for PEDs, so that decimates his fantasy stock. His ADP should drop significantly, either to the end of standard drafts or going undrafted altogether.

Catcher Tyler Stephenson is the last Cincy hitter on the ADP list, ranking 367th with a mark of 306.

Across 142 games last season, Stephenson had a .243 average, .317 OBP, 113 total hits, 56 RBIs and 59 runs scored. He homered 13 times among his 35 extra-base hits.

Stephenson is a backup fantasy catcher with those numbers, and he could start at a utility spot quite often during the season. He’s worth a late pick because he plays in so many games. 

Luke Maile is the projected backup to Stephenson. Will Benson is the other projected starter, but in a platoon with Stuart Fairchild. Jake Fraley and Tony Kemp are a couple other bench options. 

Top Fantasy Pitchers

Closer Alexis Diaz is the team’s first pitcher off draft boards, ranking 93rd overall with a mark of 99.28.

Diaz went 9-6 last season with 37 saves and a 3.07 earned run average over 71 games. He struck out 86 batters over 67 1/3 innings.

I don’t like taking a closer before round 11, but Diaz should go before that. He’ll be in the hunt to be the top fantasy closer if he stays healthy all season.

Starter Hunter Greene is next, ranking 108th with a mark of 111.31.

Greene went 4-7 across 22 starts in 2023. He had a 4.82 ERA and 152 strikeouts over 112 innings.

He’ll likely be the team’s second starter and has the chance to greatly outperform his ADP if he can get a full season of starts in and lower his ERA a bit. He’s a solid fourth SP for fantasy teams, and I’d hope to land him a little bit later than his current ADP.

Andrew Abbott is next up, ranking 240th with a mark of 206.35.

He made his MLB debut in 2023, making 21 starts. He finished 8-6 with a 3.87 ERA and 120 strikeouts over 109 1/3 innings pitched. I love the value Abbott provides at his current ADP, and wouldn’t mind taking him a round or two before it. He’s got a chance to outperform a ton of the SP drafted before him if he can replicate his success from last season and get in a full season of starts.

Nick Lodolo ranks 274th with a mark of 227.4. He’s working his way back from a leg injury, but shouldn’t be out more than a couple weeks to start the season. 

Lodolo made seven starts in 2023, finishing with a 2-1 record, 6.29 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings.

His ADP is low because of the injury and high ERA, but he had a 3.66 ERA across 19 starts in 2022, so if can get close to a full season of starts at that ERA, he’s going to be a fine fantasy option. This late in a draft, I’m all for taking a chance on Lodolo, especially if I feel good about the rest of my pitchers.

Frankie Montas ranks 336th with a mark of 266. Nick Martinez ranks 364th with a mark of 299.67. Both should be part of the rotation to start this season.

Montas made one appearance in 2023, so he’s looking to get back on track. He’s got a career 3.90 ERA, but there’s plenty of risk involved with fantasy owners relying on him. 

Martinez moves to the starting rotation after making just nine starts among his 63 appearances for the San Diego Padres in 2023. He had a 3.43 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 110 1/3 innings.

Montas and Martinez are worth late picks in drafts simply because they are locked into starting spots. There’s not much risk involved, and there’s some decent upside with each guy if they can stay healthy.

Graham Ashcraft should start, at least until Lodolo is ready to pitch. Emilio Pagan or Lucas Sims should set up Diaz and be a good source for holds.

Rhett Lowder and Connor Phillips are top-100 prospects who could also factor into the starting rotation at points this season.