The Reds announced on Wednesday their acquisition of outfielder Peyton Burdick off waivers from the Orioles, subsequently optioning him to Triple-A Louisville. This move was facilitated by transferring left-hander Alex Young to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
For Burdick, joining Cincinnati, at least for now in Louisville, adds another chapter to his eventful year of moving around. Initially designated for assignment by the Marlins in February, he was later traded to the Orioles for cash.
After Baltimore also designated him, he briefly joined the White Sox via waivers before being reclaimed by the Orioles. Now, he finds himself with the Reds, who have been missing center fielder TJ Friedl since spring training due to injury.
Originally drafted by Miami with the No. 82 overall pick in 2019, Burdick showcased impressive performances up to the Double-A level within their system. While his batting prowess has stalled in Triple-A and the majors, his combination of right-handed power, speed, and ability to cover all outfield positions still makes him a compelling depth addition for the Reds.
This move comes at a time when other bench outfielders like Stuart Fairchild and Bubba Thompson have struggled to produce. Cincinnati’s bench has been a weak point overall, with utility infielder Santiago Espinal and backup catcher Luke Maile also underperforming at the plate.
In the majors, Burdick holds a batting line of .200/.281/.368 with a high strikeout rate of 38%, albeit in a small sample size of 139 plate appearances. However, in Triple-A, he has shown glimpses of power and plate discipline, slashing .212/.324/.426 across 1021 plate appearances, with a strikeout rate of 33.2%.
Despite his struggles with batting average, scouting reports have consistently praised his exceptional power and above-average speed. In his brief stint with the Orioles’ Triple-A affiliate in 2024, he recorded a batting line of .182/.333/.455 over 69 plate appearances.
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