Matt McLain

"It's kind of the first offseason I've had to actually train and not be rehabbing," McLain said Friday. "It feels like a fresh start." The 26-year-old former top prospect struggled in his return from shoulder surgery last season, striking out at a near-30 percent clip while producing a pedestrian 40.7 percent hard-hit rate that ranked 153rd out of 251 qualified hitters. McLain still offers an enticing power/speed foundation for fantasy purposes, and the combination of added muscle and being further removed from surgery offers a plausible path to more consistent hard contact.

McLain was called up early enough in the 2023 season to qualify as a Super Two player this year, and he'll make about three times the minimum despite missing 2024 and struggling throughout last season. He should remain the Reds' starting second baseman this year, but if he continues to falter offensively, the Reds have Gavin Lux and Sal Stewart as alternatives. Hopefully, it won't come to that.