Fastball

Cincinnati Reds' Youngster Hits Walkoff HR on Sunday, Enters Team History Books

Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a walkoff home run on Sunday to beat the Washington Nationals, and in doing so, he joined a rare group in team history.

Brady Farkas

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (33) reacts rounding third base after
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand (33) reacts rounding third base after / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY
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The Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon, 6-5, after getting a walkoff home run from youngster Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The win moved the Reds to 2-1 on the young season and the walkoff hit was already the third in Encarnacion-Strand's young career. That feat puts him in a cool and unique class of team history.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

fewest career games to reach 3rd career walk-off PA, expansion era (since 1961):

Gomer Hodge: 30
David Bote: 43
Thurman Munson: 45
Jose Martinez: 49
Joe Nossek: 62
Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 66

h/t @EliasSports and @ColeJacobson32

"CES," as he is known, made his Major League debut in 2023 and is one of several exciting position player prospects to matriculate to the big leagues for Cincinnati. He should pair with Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain for years to come. Unfortunately, Marte is out the first 80 games of this season because of a PED suspension and McLain is out indefinitely after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The home run was a great moment for Encarnacion-Strand, who has struggled out of the gate, hitting just .077 through the first three games. That was his first home run and first RBI.

In 2023, he hit .270 with 13 homers and 37 RBI. His development, along with the development of Steer and De La Cruz, will be integral in trying to earn the Reds' their first playoff berth since the COVID 2020 season.

The Reds will take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. First pitch is 6:40 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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