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Orioles May Have Found a Long-Term Role for Christian Encarnacion-Strand
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- Orioles May Have Found a Long-Term Role for Christian Encarnacion-Strand
(Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)
The Baltimore Orioles endured a difficult 2026 campaign that saw the franchise sell off pieces by the deadline and miss out on the postseason altogether. Yet amidst a mostly frustrating summer, the front office managed to uncover an unexpected contributor who could carve out a permanent home on the roster moving forward.
When the Cincinnati Reds designated Christian Encarnacion-Strand for assignment back in April to clear a 40-man roster spot, the Orioles scooped him up for straight cash. It looked like a standard minor league depth move at the time, especially given how derailed his career had become following promising flashes in 2023. Injuries limited him to just 29 games in 2024 before a back issue ruined his 2025 season.
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When he finally returned to the big leagues with Baltimore in July, Encarnacion-Strand pointed to his physical setbacks as the key contributor to his struggles.
"I think injuries had a role in that," he said via MASN . "I think when you get injured and you're not playing every day, it just gets hard. The league does learn you and you have to make adjustments, but it's kind of hard to make adjustments when you can't be on the field because you're injured."
Once he got healthy in the Orioles organization, the results returned. After tearing up Triple-A Norfolk, an injury to Blaze Alexander opened the door for a big-league call-up during the All-Star break. Encarnacion-Strand seized the opportunity, slashing .277/.325/.513 with 11 home runs across 58 games in Baltimore, good for a brilliant 133 wRC+.
Beyond the bat, he provided unexpected stability at the hot corner. Having spent most of his early career bouncing around positions, Encarnacion-Strand noted his comfort level where it matters most on the infield dirt.
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"Growing up, I only played third base," he recalled. "When I got to the Reds, they switched me to first, but I am very comfortable at third."
That defensive comfort wasn't just a talking point, either. He quietly handled the hot corner well enough to finish the year with three Outs Above Average across 411.2 innings at third, while also offering a reliable safety net behind Pete Alonso at first base. But the real engine driving his value was how hard he punished left-handed pitching, carving up southpaws for a 1.009 OPS that completely altered his outlook.
The tricky part for Baltimore won't be questioning his bat, but rather figuring out the math for next spring. Mike Elias and Craig Albernaz are staring down a crowded room when winter meetings roll around.
Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday hold down the middle, Alonso is entrenched across the diamond, and a wave that includes Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander, and an expected-back Jordan Westburg leaves very few open chairs for too many players.
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Spring training competition might end up squeezing someone out of regular at-bats. Yet after the way Encarnacion-Strand salvaged his career and carried heavy water during the summer months, a cash-trade flier has suddenly morphed into a legitimate piece of the puzzle for next year's plans.
