While the Cincinnati Reds crawl to the end of the 2026 MLB season, they still put a roster out on a consistent basis that makes the fanbase shake their head or want to bang their head against a wall. As the team relies on average-to-below-average players night to night, one thing is for certain. Their depth is terrible.
So terrible, in fact, I am writing to petition for the Reds to call up outfielder Michael Toglia from AAA-Louisville to finish out the season. The team optioned Ivan Johnson back to Louisville on Monday without announcing a corresponding move. If they want to try and get some decent hitting off the bench with a little pop, the answer is obvious….. It’s Toglia.
If you’re clicking on this article expecting a breakdown on how Toglia can help get the Reds’ season on the right track, that’s not what we’re aiming for. What we are trying to say is that he can’t be any worse than who they do have on the bench getting at-bats, and he also has the ability to run into one here and there.
Through 97 games in Louisville, Toglia has a .920 OPS with 22 HR, 65 RBI, and a slash line of .273/.373/.547. While there is a major difference between Triple-A and Major League pitching, he has at least shown the ability to give the team a little extra power, which they lack outside of Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday, and Eugenio Suarez.
Another plus is that he has been successful before at the Major League level. Through four seasons playing with the Colorado Rockies, Toglia has 42 career homers and 101 career walks. Not exactly numbers that would suggest he’d lead the Reds to the postseason and provide a needed spark, but once again, better than other bench options they currently have.
Toglia can provide some defensive flexibility, playing both right field and first base throughout his career. While the Reds continue to trot out TJ Friedl to hit into double plays and provide an OPS of .496, it’s time to make the change and send Friedl back to Louisville and give Toglia the chance to see if he can help the Reds, even if it is a season where they aren’t going anywhere.
While many suspect Juan Brito will get the call, the Reds do not need yet another middle infielder who has shown they aren’t quite ready for the big leagues and who would decrease their position flexibility. Again, Toglia isn’t going to set the world on fire, but they need someone to provide the potential to hit homers off the bench.
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