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At third base, the Orioles couldn’t spell success without CES

The Baltimore Orioles’ 2026 season took an unexpected turn thanks to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, a third baseman acquired midyear whose impact went far beyond the numbers. After being traded to Cincinnati in 2022 and making his MLB debut in 2024, Encarnacion-Strand became the Orioles’ most valuable offensive asset when injuries derailed their lineup.

His .838 OPS led the team—behind only Pete Alonso—while his 11 home runs in 58 games showcased a slugging percentage (.513) that ranked second on the roster. But his clutch performances stood out: in high-leverage situations with runners in scoring position and two outs, he drove in 12 runs in just 34 plate appearances, a rate far surpassing teammates like Gunnar Henderson.

Defensively, his 3.2 Defensive Runs Above Average ranked fifth among Orioles fielders and bested both Coby Mayo and Blaze Alexander at third base, solidifying his role as the cornerstone of Baltimore’s late-season resurgence.

Encarnacion-Strand’s journey to the majors was anything but conventional. Drafted by the Twins in 2021, he was traded to the Reds in 2022 as part of a minor-league package, then spent 2023 dominating Triple-A with 20 homers in 67 games.

His path to the Orioles—via waivers after being released by Cincinnati in April—mirrors the kind of underdog story that redefined a struggling franchise. At just 26, he’s already etched his name in MLB history, not for his jersey size, but for his ability to deliver when it mattered most, proving that even the longest moniker in baseball could become the team’s most reliable chant.

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