The Reds selected Michael Toglia’s contract from Triple-A Louisville on August 11, 2026, giving the club another left-handed power option as it tries to cover first base and designated hitter.
To make room, Cincinnati also activated Nick Lodolo from the 15-day injured list, transferred Hunter Greene to the 60-day injured list and optioned Zach McCambley and Ivan Johnson to Triple-A.
Why Toglia fits the Reds right now
The timing matters. The Reds had openings at first base and designated hitter after trading Nathaniel Lowe to the Guardians on the day of the trade deadline and dealing with Spencer Steer’s wrist strain. Toglia spent the season in Louisville after signing a minor league deal with Cincinnati over the winter, and the call-up gives the team a chance to see whether his power plays in a bigger role.
Toglia, 27, was originally selected by the Rockies in the first round out of UCLA in 2019. He has spent under three seasons in the majors, but he already brings a clear power profile. Across 1067 major league plate appearances, he has hit.273/.373/.547 with 42 home runs and a 9.5% walk rate.
His Triple-A numbers this season also stood out. In Louisville, Toglia hit 22 home runs in 402 plate appearances, though he also struck out 25.6% of the time while walking 13.9% of the time. That combination of power and swing-and-miss is familiar, but the Reds are in a spot where they can use the upside.
What the move means
Toglia is out of options, so Cincinnati cannot freely move him back and forth. He has to stay in the majors or be designated for assignment, which makes this more than a short-term fill-in move. If he gets on base enough to keep the job, he could give the Reds a useful bat for the stretch run.
The pitching staff changes on the same day also added context. Lodolo returned from the injured list, while Greene’s move to the 60-day injured list confirmed that his UCL surgery will end his season. For the Reds, the roster shuffle was as much about building out the active roster as it was about adding one specific hitter.
Still, Toglia is the clear headline. The Reds needed a look at first base and designated hitter, and they now have one.
