As the Cincinnati Reds prepare to complete a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees tonight, they’ll do so with a slightly reshaped roster. The team made a handful of moves ahead of the final game, including placing Connor Joe on the 10-day injured list, calling up Ryan Vilade from Triple-A Louisville, and advancing Noelvi Marte to Double-A Chattanooga to continue his rehab assignment.
Connor Joe, a key utility player for the Reds, was placed on the IL due to an unexpected health issue: hand, foot, and mouth disease. While typically seen in young children, the illness can affect adults as well—albeit less frequently. Joe’s absence will leave a temporary gap in the team’s bench depth, but his versatility is expected to be missed as the Reds continue their push in the standings.
To fill Joe’s spot on the roster, the Reds have selected the contract of Ryan Vilade, who recently joined the organization after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals just 11 days ago. Since arriving at Triple-A Louisville, Vilade has impressed in a small sample size, posting a .263 batting average, .440 on-base percentage, and .632 slugging percentage over six games. In that span, he recorded four walks, a double, and launched two home runs, showcasing a solid mix of patience and power.
Though his stint with the Cardinals earlier this season was brief—just 1-for-13 at the plate—Vilade put together a strong performance with their Triple-A affiliate in Memphis, where he hit .280/.375/.476 before being designated for assignment. Known for his versatility, Vilade has played first base, second base, third base, and all three outfield spots in 2025, making him a valuable plug-and-play option off the bench.
Meanwhile, top infield prospect Noelvi Marte continues to ramp up in his return from injury. After a brief rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League, where he went 4-for-13 with a home run, Marte has now been promoted to Double-A Chattanooga. There, he’ll join fellow rehabber Austin Hays, who had a productive outing last night, going 1-for-4 with a walk and scoring a run. Marte’s progression through the rehab levels suggests that his return to the major league roster may not be far off, assuming he remains healthy and productive.
As the Reds chase a sweep of the Yankees, the roster shake-up reflects both short-term adaptation and longer-term planning as key players work their way back to full strength.
