The Cincinnati Reds need all of the offensive help they can get. Elly De La Cruz is a star and Eugenio Suarez is set to add power to the lineup. Sal Stewart is a top prospect with a high ceiling. However, there is one player who is making serious noise so far at spring training. Reds infielder Matt McLain has had an impressive start to the spring.

Through five games played as of this story's writing, McLain is hitting .571/.647/1.286 to go along with three home runs, one double, nine RBI and seven runs scored. He has also walked on three separate occasions.

It seems as if every season there is a surprise player or two who has a big start to spring training. The phenomenon is not often especially notable. However, this specific situation is pivotal for the Reds.

McLain was once a highly regarded prospect. He made a strong first impression at the MLB level, hitting .290/.357/.507 across 89 games played in 2023. As a result of his performance, the versatile middle infielder finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting. 

McLain ended up missing all of 2024 due to injury, however. He returned in 2025, but McLain was unable to find his 2023 form. He ended up slashing .220/.300/.343 in 147 games played. He still had 15 home runs and 18 stolen bases, but it was an overall underwhelming performance for a player who displayed legitimate signs of promise in 2023. 

Returning after a season-long injury absence is often a challenge. McLain is now playing following a full season of action, so he is surely more comfortable heading into the 2026 campaign.

Is it an overreaction to assume that McLain will bounce back given his impressive start to the spring? Or is it a valid idea? 

There is reason to believe that McLain will get back on track this year. 

McLain recorded a hard-hit rate of 42.6 percent in 2023. His 2025 number was similar, as he turned in a 41 percent hard-hit rate. He also walked more and hit more fly balls in 2025. His strikeout rates were almost identical, as McLain struck out 28.5 percent of the time in 2023 and 28.9 percent of the time last year.

McLain's 2023 .385 BABip (batting average on balls in play) suggests he may have been rather lucky in his rookie season. Nevertheless, he still managed to record a .292 BABip in 2025 and his overall numbers were underwhelming, so that doesn't tell the entire story. 

As long as McLain continues to hit the ball hard and draws a respectable amount of walks, one has to imagine he will bounce back.