Reds acquire power-hitting first baseman Michael Toglia.
The Cincinnati Reds made a move to add some power to their organizational depth on Friday, signing first baseman Michael Toglia to a minor league contract.
The 27-year-old switch hitter was non-tendered by the Colorado Rockies in late November after struggling with strikeouts in 2025, but he brings legitimate home run power and some upside to a Reds organization looking to build on their Wild Card appearance last season.
A First-Rounder Looking for a Fresh Start
Toglia's journey to Cincinnati has been one of ups and downs since the Rockies selected him 23rd overall in the 2019 MLB Draft out of UCLA.
After showing big power in the minors and making his big league debut in 2022, he seemed to find his stride in 2024 when he launched 25 home runs in 116 games while posting a solid 11.8 percent walk rate, though it came with a 32.1 percent strikeout rate.
But 2025 was a different story, as his strikeout issues got worse and he posted an alarming 39.1 percent strikeout rate through the first two months before being sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque.
The Rockies bounced him between the majors and minors for the rest of the season, and Colorado ultimately decided to cut ties after he posted a career-worst -1.7 batting WAR.
Despite the struggles, Toglia has shown he can do serious damage when he makes contact—in 2024, he ranked in the 98th percentile in barrel rate and the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate, proving that the raw power is still there.
Over four MLB seasons, he's hit 42 home runs and has shown flashes of being a genuine three-true-outcomes slugger, though getting the bat on the ball has been his biggest challenge with a whiff rate above 33% in all four big league seasons.
What Toglia Brings to Cincinnati
For the Reds, this is a low-risk move that could pay off if their player development staff can help Toglia make more consistent contact while keeping his power intact.
The 6-foot-5 left-handed hitter has a solid glove at first base, giving him some defensive value to go along with his power potential, and his ability to switch-hit adds versatility to the organization.
Cincinnati will likely start him at Triple-A Louisville to see if he can rediscover the form that made him a productive big leaguer in 2024.
The Reds finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record, good for third place in the NL Central, and they clinched the third Wild Card spot by winning the season series against the New York Mets.
Though they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card Series, there's plenty of reason for optimism heading into 2026 with young stars like Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene leading the way, and the team is looking to add depth pieces who can contribute if called upon.
The Road Ahead
While Toglia will need to prove himself in the minors before getting a shot at the big league roster, the potential is there for him to become a valuable piece for Cincinnati.
If he can cut down on the strikeouts and tap into the power that saw him crush 25 bombs just two seasons ago, he could give the Reds a dangerous left-handed bat off the bench or even push for regular playing time at first base.
For now, Cincinnati is giving a former first-round pick another opportunity to show what he can do in a new organization, and the Reds are betting that a change of scenery and some work in Triple-A could help unlock the talent that made Colorado believe in him back in 2019.
The signing adds to what's been a quiet but steady offseason for Cincinnati as they look to build on their 2025 playoff appearance and take the next step in their rebuild under manager Terry Francona.
Whether Toglia becomes part of that journey remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place for him to get every chance to succeed.