Matt McLain -- General News

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain returns to the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the 2026 season after a frustrating 2025 campaign. Manager Terry Francona made the decision approximately four weeks prior and will have McLain batting second on Opening Day against the Red Sox, alongside TJ Friedl leading off and Elly De La Cruz batting third.

McLain's 2025 season was difficult enough that he was dropped to the ninth spot for the final six weeks. However, he has impressed this spring, leading all MLB hitters in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Francona noted that McLain shows no panic entering the season, and the player himself has adopted a more process-oriented, intelligent approach to hitting rather than relying solely on extra work. McLain emphasized specific goals including swinging at strikes in the heart of the zone early in counts, reducing strikeouts, and driving in runners in scoring position.

At 26 years old, McLain is viewed as an athletic right-handed power threat capable of both setting the table and driving runners in. Francona balanced multiple considerations when deciding to place McLain in the No. 2 spot: positioning him for success, preventing excessive pressure, and constructing the optimal lineup for the team. If McLain performs to Francona's expectations, he will represent the ideal No. 2 hitter for the Reds.

Matt McLain of the Cincinnati Reds hit his fourth home run of the 2026 season on May 14, driving in two runs in the bottom of the second inning. The blast came off a Washington cutter thrown at 86.1 mph, which McLain hit with an exit velocity of 104.3 mph at a 26-degree launch angle, carrying 399 feet to center field. The two-run homer gave the Reds an early offensive boost in the matchup.