DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: NL Central—Is Hamilton on the horizon?

Cincinnati Reds

With an awkward slide on opening day, Ryan Ludwick's (OF, CIN) season is suddenly in jeopardy. Ludwick had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his shoulder and is expected to miss 13-14 weeks.  And when Ludwick returns, his ability to generate his usual power is in question. So, what are the Reds' options?

The immediate answer is Chris Heisey (OF, CIN), who will get most of the AB in the short term. Heisey hit 18 HR in 279 AB for the Reds in 2011 with a .254 BA and 157 PX, but his PX plummeted to 90 last season, and he hit only seven homers in 347 AB. A 7% hr/f rate appears to have been the culprit, but it may take some time to see which Heisey shows up. This spring Heisey had 17 hits in 62 AB, with four doubles and...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

With teams still putting rosters together, each of the NL West teams (even the Dodgers), has some work to do. What are next steps each team might take?
Jan 29 2026 3:06am
What does the acquisition of Luisangel Acuña mean for the outfield picture in Chicago? Plus, a look at DET SS options, the catcher situation in KC, and the CLE and MIN rotations.
Jan 26 2026 3:03am
Ben Williamson is currently the projected third baseman for the Mariners, but a shakeup may be needed.
Jan 20 2026 3:01am
Chicago signed Bregman to a 5-year/$175 million deal, how does it impact their roster?
Jan 15 2026 3:09am
Coby Mayo (pictured) and Ryan Mountcastle have been squeezed from regular reps in BAL, while Triston Casas is in a similar spot in BOS; plus, more offseason fallout from the AL East.
Jan 13 2026 3:01am

Tools