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Héctor Rodríguez looks to put ‘great hands’ to use in Reds’ outfield

CINCINNATI -- Héctor Rodríguez was on a hitting tear for Triple-A Louisville when the Reds gave the 22-year-old right fielder his first Major League promotion on Aug. 4. Rodríguez's first couple of weeks saw extremely lean production and the lefty…

By Mark Sheldon · MLB Official

Published: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 2:23 PM

Key Things to Know

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Héctor Rodríguez is working on footwork and pitch selection to secure an outfield role next season.
Manager Terry Francona praised Rodríguez's quick hands but noted the young hitter must keep his feet from bouncing around.
After hitting .118 in his first 12 MLB games, Rodríguez batted .264 with six homers over his final 29 appearances.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Héctor Rodríguez is aiming to build on his late-season progress by refining his batting approach and defense this offseason. After a rough start following his August 4 promotion, the 22-year-old rebounded to finish his final 29 games with six home runs and a .787 OPS, boosted by advice from teammates Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez.

Reds manager Terry Francona emphasized that Rodríguez must stabilize his footwork at the plate to fully leverage his quick hands and bat speed. Front office head Nick Krall also highlighted the need for improved plate discipline and corner outfield defense ahead of open competition in spring training.

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Héctor Rodríguez looks to put ‘great hands’ to use in Reds’ outfield

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