Rece Hinds impressed during spring training but was reassigned to minor league camp due to the Reds' roster decisions. Manager Terry Francona believes Hinds needs regular playing time, which he won't get in the big leagues at this moment.
Rece Hinds did enough to make the Cincinnati Reds big-league team coming out of spring training, and that made it hard for him to hear he was a late-camp cut and reassigned to minor league camp.
"I went in there (in spring), completed the goals that I put for myself and obviously, it wasn't what the Reds wanted at that point," Hinds said, "but I knew I was gonna get my chance at some point."
Reds manager Terry Francona's thought process was that with Noelvi Marte doing enough to retain the starting right field position, Hinds needed to play regularly as opposed to sitting on the bench in Cincinnati.
Reds right fielder Rece Hinds connects on a one-out double in the third inning against the Braves May 8. Hinds was stranded on second base.
More: Reds deal Christian Encarnacion-Strand to Baltimore Orioles
Hinds reacted to the disappointment of missing out on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster by immediately grabbing headlines for his play at Triple-A Louisville to begin 2026. Hinds hit .354 with a 1.246 OPS, earning an International League Player of the Week honor. He also improved aspects of his game, prompting him to say April 14 that he's a "new Rece."
"We said, 'we want you to play. We don't want you to sit on the bench,' " Francona said. "To his credit, he goes and plays and plays really well... I think his consistency. His at-bats have been better. They've been more consistent. I think he's understanding as he grows and matures in being accountable in the outfield, on the bases. That was what I noticed this spring was how well he ran the bases and things like that.
"We don't expect him to come here and be the savior. We just want him to play the best baseball he can and go from there."
The Reds certainly won't complain if Hinds continues his hot hitting because the club is lacking for consistent offensive production. Entering a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants, MLB's lowest-scoring club, Cincinnati's 54 runs scored were tied with the Kansas City Royal for the second-worst offensive output.
The Reds' .205 team batting average was also the second-worst in baseball entering play on April 14.
Hinds isn't putting pressure on himself to carry the team, saying: "I'm just here to show what I've been doing the past two years and to continue that success."
"They said just keep going, do your thing," Hinds said. "Keep doing what you've been doing the last couple years and keep that consistency."
The roster move corresponding to Hinds' recall was optioning Marte to Louisville on April 13. Marte helped the Reds reach the 2025 postseason but was so far hitting .138 in 2026.
After some shaky defensive moments this spring for Marte, who is still new to the outfield, he hadn't committed a fielding error in the regular season.
On the bases, Marte ran into some outs just prior to being optioned out in the April 10-12 series against the Los Angeles Angels. He was picked off by former teammate Brent Suter on April 11 and doubled off at third base in the ninth inning April 12 as Cincinnati attempted to mount a late comeback.
Almost all of the conversation around Marte's move to Louisville centered around his hitting. Defensively, Francona said Marte would play right field and center field because he has the athleticism to do so.
Marte wasn't the only Reds player slumping at the plate at the time of his move to Triple-A, but Francona said he didn't necessarily want other players to be concerned about being optioned out. The time was just right for Marte to go down and try to steady himself, Francona indicated.
"You try to be fair to players because I don't want to have, like, a guy have a bad week and think, 'man, you know,' because that doesn't help," Francona said. "At the same time, when we get to a point where we think it might be better off for a player to be in Triple-A playing every day rather than trying to find matchups, so that's where we decided.
"He just go to a point, I think he was trying to hit himself back into − and he was swinging at everything, and that's a hard way to do it."
Look back at the career of Ken Griffey Jr., in this gallery. May 4, 1999: Ken Griffey Sr. gives some advice to son Ken Griffey, Jr., with the Seattle Mariners. The younger Griffey stopped in at Cinergy Field to visit with Griffey Senior who is a coach with the Reds.
February 10, 2000: Ken Griffey, Jr. tips a Reds cap at a Cinergy Field press conference announcing his trade to the Reds from the Seattle Mariners. Ken Griffey, Sr. (far left) and Junior's son Trey sports a Reds cap. Reds GM Jim Bowden (center) watches with pride.
February 11, 2000: The Griffey family stands together at a press conference where it was announced that Ken Griffey Jr. had signed a long term contract with the Cincinnati Reds. ( l-r) Alberta, Melissa, Ken Sr, Taryn, Ken Jr, and Trey.
February 20, 2000: Newly acquired Ken Griffey, Jr., accompanied by his son Trey, checked into the Reds training complex in Sarasota. Griffey clowns with his son about a glove he was trying on his hand.
June 20, 2000: Ken Griffey Jr. stands with Reds owner Carl Lindner before the Reds-Rockies game.
July 8, 2000: Ken Griffey Jr. is congratulated by teammate Barry Larkin in the third inning after hitting the first of his two home runs against Cleveland at Cinergy Field.
July 9, 2000: With bat in hand, Ken Griffey, Jr. argues a called third strike with umpire Justin Klemm. The argument was heated and Griffey, Jr. was ejected from the game. The arms of Jack McKeon are grabbing Griffey to break up the argument.
July 22, 2000: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey lifts up shortstop Barry Larkin and spins him around off the ground before the start of their game against Arizona.
August 6, 2000: Florida Marlins second baseman Chris Clapinski runs into Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Jr. tagging him out in the third inning at Cinergy Field.
August 7, 2000: Tennis star Pete Sampras shares a laugh with Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. at Cinergy Field. Sampras, in town for the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati, took a little batting practice with the team.
June 15, 2001: Ken Griffey, Jr., talks with Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman as Ken Griffey, Sr. listens during batting practice.
August 9, 2001: Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey Jr. pumps his fist as he watches his 450th career home run sail across the outfield fence in the second inning at Cinergy Field. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and Giants catcher Edwards Guzman look on.
The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. has a picture taken with young Reds fan Austin Koch, 6 of Bridgetown during his autograph signing at Redsfest VI at the Cincinnati Convention Center on Dec. 7, 2001.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. throws to second base in the fifth inning against Chicago Cubs at Cinergy Field on April 4, 2002.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. joke around during batting practice at Cinergy Field on June 19, 2002.
March 30, 2003: Ken Griffey Jr. readies for batting practice at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. chats it up with New York Yankees' first baseman Jason Giambi at Great American Ball Park on June 3, 2003.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. gives two thumbs up to the bench after hitting a choppy base hit in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on April 21, 2004.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. stands on deck just before he hit a solo home run in the eighth inning against The San Francisco on May 8, 2004 at Great American Ball Park.
Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. crashes into Texas Rangers catcher Rod Barajas trying to score during the tenth inning at Great American Ball Park on June 15, 2004.
June 18, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr.'s quest for his elusive 500th career home run moved on to St. Louis where the Reds will face the Cardinals for a three game series. Griffey motions to other players to leave the field as the grounds crew moves in to finish covering the field at Busch Stadium.
June 19, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr.'s quest for his 500th career home run moved to St. Louis against the Cardinals. In rare form, Griffey chatted with Cardinals slugger Jim Edmonds. Griffey explains where his family is seated behind the third base dugouts in Busch Stadium.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. holds his son Tevin while his mother Birdie picks up the trophy for hitting his 500th career home run during pregame ceremonies on June 25, 2004 at Great American Ball Park.
July 4, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr. raced home with the winning run ahead of the throw. Tim Hummel's 11th inning single scored Ken Griffey, Jr. from second base to lift the Reds over Cleveland 5-4 at the Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. poses for pictures during the Reds Kroger/Fujifilm Photo Day where fans flooded the stadium early to take photos of their favorite players before the game on July 16, 2005.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. showed up as players trickled into spring training camp in Sarasota on Feb. 16, 2006.
Well-known sports broadcaster Dick Vitale chats with Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. as he visited the Reds Spring Training facility in Sarasota on Feb. 16, 2006.
July 17, 2006: Lee May, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Jr. share a laugh after the Reds Hall of Fame Ceremony prior to the Reds' game against the Colorado Rockies . Lee May was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
The Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. poses for a head shot while at spring training in Sarasota on Feb. 25, 2006 in the USA uniform he will wear in the World Baseball Classic .
The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. plays with a paintball gun after practice at spring training in Sarasota on February 25, 2006.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Sean Casey chat it up at first base at Great American Ball Park on April 6, 2006.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Joe Nuxhall interact as Nuxhall stopped by camp at spring training on Feb. 21, 2007.
Cincinnati Reds outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn wait to hit the field against the Chicago Cubs on April 2, 2007.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. interviews Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall in the dugout before a game against Cleveland at Great American Ball Park on June 8, 2007.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and the Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. hang out during The Reds Annual Family Game at Great American Ball Park on July 4, 2007.
Sept. 7, 2007: The big boys, Ricky Watters (left), Adam Dunn, Dee Brown, Ken Griffey,Jr. and Joey Fatone, strike (at least) a pose at the Stars and Strikes for Kids event at King Pin Lanes in Anderson Township.
November 20, 2007: Ken Griffey Jr. looks up as he attends the visitation for Joe Nuxhall at Fairfield High School.
Cincinnati Reds players Joey Votto, Jay Bruce Norris Hopper and Ken Griffey Jr. wait to take batting practice at spring training in Sarasota on Feb. 23, 2008.
April 6, 2008: Reds manager Dusty Baker, right, shares a pregame story with coach Billy Hatcher, left, and ken Griffey, Jr., center.
April 20, 2008: Ken Griffey Jr. flashes the victory sign as he leaves the dugout. Griffey's 10th inning walk off single scored Ryan Freel with the winning run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was all smiles while on deck before he hit his first inning solo home run against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on April 23, 2008.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. hits a first-inning solo home run against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on April 23, 2008. This was his 597th career home run.
Reds players Johnny Cueto and Ken Griffey Jr., both with the night off, hang out and watch their team beat the Florida Marlins 5-3 at Great American Ball Park on May 13, 2008.
June 1, 2008: Ken Griffey, Jr. walks past an ad on the right field wall as the Reds swept the Braves at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., the newest member of the 600 home run club, talks with the media about his accomplishments before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on June 10, 2008.
Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. talks with former Reds pitcher and now Nationals assistant general manager Jose Rijo during batting practice on July 4, 2008 at Great American Ball Park.
Aug. 9, 2014: An emotional Ken Griffey Jr. reacts as he addresses fans during the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction at Great American Ball Park.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. head back to the clubhouse after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park on July 13, 2015.
Former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds player Ken Griffey Jr. poses with his plaque at the conclusion of the induction ceremony into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2016.
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Look back at the career of Ken Griffey Jr., in this gallery. May 4, 1999: Ken Griffey Sr. gives some advice to son Ken Griffey, Jr., with the Seattle Mariners. The younger Griffey stopped in at Cinergy Field to visit with Griffey Senior who is a coach with the Reds.
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Look back at the career of Ken Griffey Jr., in this gallery. May 4, 1999: Ken Griffey Sr. gives some advice to son Ken Griffey, Jr., with the Seattle Mariners. The younger Griffey stopped in at Cinergy Field to visit with Griffey Senior who is a coach with the Reds.
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February 10, 2000: Ken Griffey, Jr. tips a Reds cap at a Cinergy Field press conference announcing his trade to the Reds from the Seattle Mariners. Ken Griffey, Sr. (far left) and Junior's son Trey sports a Reds cap. Reds GM Jim Bowden (center) watches with pride.
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February 11, 2000: The Griffey family stands together at a press conference where it was announced that Ken Griffey Jr. had signed a long term contract with the Cincinnati Reds. ( l-r) Alberta, Melissa, Ken Sr, Taryn, Ken Jr, and Trey.
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February 20, 2000: Newly acquired Ken Griffey, Jr., accompanied by his son Trey, checked into the Reds training complex in Sarasota. Griffey clowns with his son about a glove he was trying on his hand.
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June 20, 2000: Ken Griffey Jr. stands with Reds owner Carl Lindner before the Reds-Rockies game.
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July 8, 2000: Ken Griffey Jr. is congratulated by teammate Barry Larkin in the third inning after hitting the first of his two home runs against Cleveland at Cinergy Field.
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July 9, 2000: With bat in hand, Ken Griffey, Jr. argues a called third strike with umpire Justin Klemm. The argument was heated and Griffey, Jr. was ejected from the game. The arms of Jack McKeon are grabbing Griffey to break up the argument.
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July 22, 2000: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey lifts up shortstop Barry Larkin and spins him around off the ground before the start of their game against Arizona.
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August 6, 2000: Florida Marlins second baseman Chris Clapinski runs into Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Jr. tagging him out in the third inning at Cinergy Field.
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August 7, 2000: Tennis star Pete Sampras shares a laugh with Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. at Cinergy Field. Sampras, in town for the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati, took a little batting practice with the team.
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June 15, 2001: Ken Griffey, Jr., talks with Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman as Ken Griffey, Sr. listens during batting practice.
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August 9, 2001: Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey Jr. pumps his fist as he watches his 450th career home run sail across the outfield fence in the second inning at Cinergy Field. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and Giants catcher Edwards Guzman look on.
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The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. has a picture taken with young Reds fan Austin Koch, 6 of Bridgetown during his autograph signing at Redsfest VI at the Cincinnati Convention Center on Dec. 7, 2001.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. throws to second base in the fifth inning against Chicago Cubs at Cinergy Field on April 4, 2002.
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Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. joke around during batting practice at Cinergy Field on June 19, 2002.
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March 30, 2003: Ken Griffey Jr. readies for batting practice at Great American Ball Park.
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Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. chats it up with New York Yankees' first baseman Jason Giambi at Great American Ball Park on June 3, 2003.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. gives two thumbs up to the bench after hitting a choppy base hit in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park on April 21, 2004.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. stands on deck just before he hit a solo home run in the eighth inning against The San Francisco on May 8, 2004 at Great American Ball Park.
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Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. crashes into Texas Rangers catcher Rod Barajas trying to score during the tenth inning at Great American Ball Park on June 15, 2004.
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June 18, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr.'s quest for his elusive 500th career home run moved on to St. Louis where the Reds will face the Cardinals for a three game series. Griffey motions to other players to leave the field as the grounds crew moves in to finish covering the field at Busch Stadium.
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June 19, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr.'s quest for his 500th career home run moved to St. Louis against the Cardinals. In rare form, Griffey chatted with Cardinals slugger Jim Edmonds. Griffey explains where his family is seated behind the third base dugouts in Busch Stadium.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. holds his son Tevin while his mother Birdie picks up the trophy for hitting his 500th career home run during pregame ceremonies on June 25, 2004 at Great American Ball Park.
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July 4, 2004: Ken Griffey, Jr. raced home with the winning run ahead of the throw. Tim Hummel's 11th inning single scored Ken Griffey, Jr. from second base to lift the Reds over Cleveland 5-4 at the Great American Ball Park.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. poses for pictures during the Reds Kroger/Fujifilm Photo Day where fans flooded the stadium early to take photos of their favorite players before the game on July 16, 2005.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. showed up as players trickled into spring training camp in Sarasota on Feb. 16, 2006.
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Well-known sports broadcaster Dick Vitale chats with Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. as he visited the Reds Spring Training facility in Sarasota on Feb. 16, 2006.
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July 17, 2006: Lee May, Tony Perez and Ken Griffey Jr. share a laugh after the Reds Hall of Fame Ceremony prior to the Reds' game against the Colorado Rockies . Lee May was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
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The Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. poses for a head shot while at spring training in Sarasota on Feb. 25, 2006 in the USA uniform he will wear in the World Baseball Classic .
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The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. plays with a paintball gun after practice at spring training in Sarasota on February 25, 2006.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Sean Casey chat it up at first base at Great American Ball Park on April 6, 2006.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and Joe Nuxhall interact as Nuxhall stopped by camp at spring training on Feb. 21, 2007.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn wait to hit the field against the Chicago Cubs on April 2, 2007.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. interviews Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall in the dugout before a game against Cleveland at Great American Ball Park on June 8, 2007.
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San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and the Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. hang out during The Reds Annual Family Game at Great American Ball Park on July 4, 2007.
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Sept. 7, 2007: The big boys, Ricky Watters (left), Adam Dunn, Dee Brown, Ken Griffey,Jr. and Joey Fatone, strike (at least) a pose at the Stars and Strikes for Kids event at King Pin Lanes in Anderson Township.
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November 20, 2007: Ken Griffey Jr. looks up as he attends the visitation for Joe Nuxhall at Fairfield High School.
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Cincinnati Reds players Joey Votto, Jay Bruce Norris Hopper and Ken Griffey Jr. wait to take batting practice at spring training in Sarasota on Feb. 23, 2008.
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April 6, 2008: Reds manager Dusty Baker, right, shares a pregame story with coach Billy Hatcher, left, and ken Griffey, Jr., center.
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April 20, 2008: Ken Griffey Jr. flashes the victory sign as he leaves the dugout. Griffey's 10th inning walk off single scored Ryan Freel with the winning run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was all smiles while on deck before he hit his first inning solo home run against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on April 23, 2008.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. hits a first-inning solo home run against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park on April 23, 2008. This was his 597th career home run.
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Reds players Johnny Cueto and Ken Griffey Jr., both with the night off, hang out and watch their team beat the Florida Marlins 5-3 at Great American Ball Park on May 13, 2008.
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June 1, 2008: Ken Griffey, Jr. walks past an ad on the right field wall as the Reds swept the Braves at Great American Ball Park.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., the newest member of the 600 home run club, talks with the media about his accomplishments before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on June 10, 2008.
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Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. talks with former Reds pitcher and now Nationals assistant general manager Jose Rijo during batting practice on July 4, 2008 at Great American Ball Park.
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Aug. 9, 2014: An emotional Ken Griffey Jr. reacts as he addresses fans during the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction at Great American Ball Park.
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Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. head back to the clubhouse after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park on July 13, 2015.
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Former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds player Ken Griffey Jr. poses with his plaque at the conclusion of the induction ceremony into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2016.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rece Hinds wants to bring his hot hitting in Triple-A to Reds
Rece Hinds was reassigned because the Reds decided he would benefit from regular playing time in the minors instead of sitting on the bench in the big leagues.
Rece Hinds met his personal goals during spring training, showcasing enough talent to make the Reds' big-league team initially.
Reds manager Terry Francona commented on Rece Hinds' situation, emphasizing the need for him to play regularly.
Rece Hinds plays as a right fielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
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