Hays is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Miami.
Hays will receive a day off after going 3-for-19 with a 0:9 BB:K over his first 19 plate appearances this season. Andrew Benintendi will patrol left field for the White Sox on Wednesday and Miguel Vargas will get a start at designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Austin Hays: Carrying hot bat
Rotowire
Hays is slashing .357/.400/.690 with three doubles, a triple, three homers and one steal in 45 Cactus League plate appearances.
The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the White Sox in January and has put his best foot forward during spring training. Hays totaled 15 home runs and seven stolen bases with a .768 OPS in 103 regular-season games with Cincinnati last year and is expected to start in a corner outfield spot for Chicago.
... See More... See Less
White Sox's Austin Hays: Lands with White Sox
Rotowire
Hays signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the White Sox on Saturday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
After sending Luis Robert to the Mets earlier in the month, the White Sox will add some talent back to their outfield by bringing in Hays. The 30-year-old enjoyed one of his best seasons in the majors last year with the Reds, slashing .266/.315/.453 with 15 homers, 64 RBI and 60 runs scored while adding seven steals in 103 games. He's primarily played in left field over the past few seasons, but the White Sox may look to take advantage of his arm strength in right field, keeping Andrew Benintendi (Achilles) in left.
... See More... See Less
Austin Hays: Enters free agency
Rotowire
The Reds declined Hays' $12 million mutual option for 2026 on Wednesday.
Hays will be given a $1 million buyout. The 30-year-old slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs over 103 regular-season contests for the Reds in 2025. The right-handed-hitting Hays batted .319/.400/.549 against left-handed pitching this season and could draw interest as a short-side platoon outfielder in free agency.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Back in lineup for Game 1
Rotowire
Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers.
It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Included on wild-card roster
Rotowire
Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster.
Hays hasn't started a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms, but he made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's regular-season finale in Milwaukee and came out of it well enough to be included on his club's wild-card roster. With lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, there's a good chance the right-handed-hitting Hays will be in the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: On bench for regular-season finale
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.
Hays took swings in the batting cage Saturday and felt good afterward, which is an encouraging sign, as he felt discomfort while hitting earlier in the week. Still, the outfielder will be idle for Cincinnati's regular-season finale. The Reds will clinch a spot in the postseason with a win or a Mets loss Sunday. It's unclear if Hays will be good to go in time for the wild-card round, however.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Responds well to work Saturday
Rotowire
Hays (back) felt good after hitting in the batting cage Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Hays had felt guarded with his injury in activities earlier in the week but came out of Saturday's session feeling "much better," according to Reds manager Terry Francona. Hays also did some running and agility drills on the field, but the team will monitor how he bounces back before making any decisions regarding his availability for Sunday's regular-season finale, a game in which the Reds can clinch a wild-card spot with a win (or a Mets loss).
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Out again Saturday
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee.
Hays hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms. Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays tried hitting Thursday and still felt discomfort. Spencer Steer will fill left field Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Tries hitting
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays (back) tried hitting Thursday and felt uncomfortable, MLB.com reports.
Hays has not played since exiting last Saturday's game due to back spams. Gavin Lux and Will Benson have played left field while Hays has been out.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Milwaukee.
Hays hasn't played since Sept. 20 because of back spasms. He reported improvement Thursday but was not available off the bench, and it's unclear whether he'll make it back before the end of the season. Gavin Lux is in left field and batting third for the Reds on Friday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Feeling better
Rotowire
Hays (back) was feeling better Thursday but not available to play, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Hays, who didn't respond well to running earlier in the week, has missed the last four games. It's unclear when, or if, Hays will be able to rejoin the club, which is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Reds manager Terry Francona indicated Thursday that placement on the injured list is unlikely, as that would force Hays to miss postseason action, should Cincinnati qualify. "I think we're much better off trying to see if we can nurse him through this and have him be available," the manager said. Will Benson has started in left field all four games without Hays.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Held out again Wednesday
Rotowire
Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates.
Hays will miss a third straight start as he deals with back spasms. He went through a pregame workout Tuesday to test out his back and that didn't go well, so it's unclear when he might be ready to play again. Will Benson will grab another start in left field for the Reds.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Tests his back
Rotowire
Hays tested his back spasms by running on the field Tuesday and said it was "not great," MLB.com reports.
Hays has missed the last two games after experiencing the back issue Saturday. Will Benson has filled in at left field while Hays is unavailable. Both of those starts were against right-handers.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Idle Sunday
Rotowire
Hays (back) is out of the out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Hays left Saturday's 6-3 win due to back spasms, and he'll require at least one day off to recover. Will Benson, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte will patrol the outfield from left to right.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Departs with back spasms
Rotowire
Hays was removed from Saturday's game against the Cubs due to back spasms.
Hays was lifted at the start of the sixth inning after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He was replaced in left field by Spencer Steer, who moved over from first base, while Sal Stewart entered the game to play first.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Idle for series finale
Rotowire
Hays is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
Hays will get a chance to catch his breath Sunday after he had started in each of the Reds' last 12 games, during which he slashed .292/.300/.583 with four home runs, one stolen base, 10 RBI and seven runs. Will Benson will spell Hays in left field and will bat sixth.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Notches steal in loss
Rotowire
Hays went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics.
Hays extended his hitting streak to nine games, a span in which he has gone 11-for-36 (.306). The outfielder isn't known for his speed, with his steal Friday being his seventh of the year and first since he had a pair during a late-August series versus the Diamondbacks. Hays has been a steady bat in the middle of the order this year, posting a .266/.316/.463 slash line, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 56 runs scored, 15 doubles and five triples over 95 contests.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Hays isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus San Diego.
Hays will head to the bench Tuesday in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, giving Gavin Lux a chance to start in left field and bat fourth against right-hander Michael King.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Austin Hays: Solo homer in loss
Rotowire
Hays went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Padres.
Hays notched a multi-hit effort Monday, punctuated by his 15th homer of the year in the sixth inning. The left fielder has been driving the ball lately, slugging .632 over his past 15 games with three doubles, five long balls and 15 RBI.
