CINCINNATI ¨C To make room Saturday on the roster for starting pitcher Andrew Abbott activated from the injured list, the Reds optioned outfielder Will Benson to Triple-A Louisville.
Abbott, who was behind in camp as he worked back from a left shoulder injury, made his 2025 regular season debut against the Pirates.
Benson was recalled from Louisville on Tuesday, when the club was in San Francisco. He played one game, on Wednesday vs. the Giants, and was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
¡°We knew it was probably going to be a quick one and we told him that last night," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "He was really good. I think it¡¯s important for him to play. Nothing has changed since before.¡±
Benson spent all of 2024 in the big leagues with Cincinnati but struggled to repeat a breakout 2023 season. In 128 games last season, he batted .187 with a .650 OPS and 14 home runs.
Over his first nine games with Louisville this season, Benson was batting .342 with a .942 OPS and two homers while leading the International League with 14 hits and 24 total bases.