The Reds announced that infielder/outfielder has been claimed off waivers from the Cardinals, and Vilade was optioned to Triple-A. To create roster space, Cincinnati designated outfielder for a signment. St. Louis designated Vilade two days ago, after Vilade had appeared in seven games during a brief stint on the Cards roster. Signed to a minor league contract in December, Vilade hit an impre sive .280/.375/.476 over 192 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis to earn a selection to the Cardinals active roster at the end of May, though he had only one hit in 15 PA on the Cards active roster. To some extent, this has been the story of Vilades pro career, as he had a .141/.200/.188 slash line in 71 PA over 27 career games in the majors with the Rockies, Tigers, and Cardinals. His career .272/ Mike Conley Jersey .353/.406 slash in 2093 Triple-A appearances is much more impre sive, yet it hasnt stood out quite enough for Vilade to get much in the way of regular playing time in the Show, nor has he hit anywhere near well enough to capitalize on his small sample. While Vilade has played only as an outfielder and in one single game as a first baseman in the majors, he has some experience at all four infield positions, including time as a first, second, and third baseman with Memphis this year. This expanded defensive repertoire seems like a logical way for Vilade to improve his usefulne s to big league teams, and it might help him earn some bench time on a Reds team that is somewhat unsettled in teams of everyday regulars. In particular, Vilades right-handed bat might help him become a complement within a Reds outfield overloaded with left-handed hitters. That crowded outfield may have factored into the limited playing time that Hurtubise received in his first two MLB seasons, though the left-handed hitter has batted only .167/.291/.212 over 83 PA in the bigs. This season, he made the Reds Opening Day roster but didnt last long before being optioned, and then briefly returned to the majors in May. An undrafted free agent for the Reds in 2020 (the year of the pandemic-shortened five-round draft), Hurtubise reached Triple-A for the first time in 2023, but his numbers at Cincinnatis top affiliate have gone steadily downward over the last three years. He has hit just .144/.336/.186 in 133 PA in Louisville this season, making him an expendable piece on the Reds 40-man roster despite some tremendous speed and base-stealing ability (124 steals in 147 chances in his minor league career). Hurtubise cant reject an outright a signment, so he would remain in the Reds organization if he clears waivers. Sean McDermott Jersey