Austin Hays Fantasy Stats

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they declined the $12 million mutual option on outfielder Austin Hays for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. The team also declined the 2026 club options on right-hander Scott Barlow and left-hander Brent Suter. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout and will be free to sign with any MLB team this offseason. The 30-year-old veteran was on the injured list multiple times with various injuries in his first and only season in Cincinnati, but when he was active, he played well, slashing .266/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 416 plate appearances over 103 games played. Hays will garner attention in free agency as a platoon outfielder who is best used against left-handed pitching. He hit .319 against southpaws in 2025.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is returning to the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 of the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before this, Hays was held out of the final seven games of the regular season due to back spasms. It doesn't appear the issue was ever serious enough to place him on the injured list. Hays will cover left field and bat cleanup against left-hander Blake Snell. This will be his first start since September 20, so there could be some rust.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is feeling better after dealing with back spasms the last few days, but he's not ready to return for Friday's series opener of a crucial season-ending divisional series in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Hays has not played since leaving last Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs, but the Reds aren't close to putting him on the injured list. If the Reds put him on the IL and make the postseason, they would lose him for the playoffs. It makes things tougher for Cincy, who entered Friday one game back of the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League, since Hays has hit .301/.323/.505 with five homers and 15 RBI in 25 games since Aug. 23. He has dealt with multiple injuries in 2025 but has hit 15 home runs and 64 RBI in 102 games in his first year with the team. With Hays out this past week, the Reds have mostly been using Will Benson in left field.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) tested his injured back by running on the field on Tuesday and said it was "not great," according to MLB.com. The Reds will proceed with caution, which means there's a chance that Hays won't rejoin the lineup before the end of the regular season this Sunday. He left the game early on Sept. 20 in the fifth inning due to spasms after his back locked up on a swing. If the 30-year-old continues to sit out, the lefty-hitting Will Benson should continue to start in left field for Cincy against right-handed pitchers. Hays has been on the injured list multiple times in 2025 with various injuries in his first year with the team and has hit .266/.316/.454 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 102 games played. He's been solid in September, going 18-for-65 (.277) with three homers, eight RBI, and a steal in 17 games.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in his team's 13-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He also notched a two-run triple -- his fourth in 35 contests. The 29-year-old picked up his first multi-hit game and homer since returning from the injured list a few days ago due to a foot injury. Hays was hitting well before sustaining the ailment, and has already collected four RBI in four appearances since rejoining the squad. Overall, he's slashing a strong .295/.336/.568 with seven long balls, seven doubles, 29 RBI, and 26 runs scored. If he can stay healthy, he'll have plenty of RBI opportunities batting from the four-hole in Cincinnati's lineup. However, it's important to note he's outproducing his .256 xBA by a good margin.

The Cincinnati Reds activated outfielder Austin Hays (foot) from the 10-day injured list on Friday, according to FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith. Hays has been an everyday player for the Reds this year when he's been healthy, and he'll step back into that role, but the team will ease him back in as the designated hitter at first for Friday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres and right-hander Dylan Cease. The 29-year-old has been out since May 29 with a left-foot contusion. Hays has had a tough time staying on the field in 2025, but when he's been active, he's been useful in mixed fantasy leagues with a .303/.346/.555 slash line, .901 OPS, six home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs scored and two stolen bases in 119 at-bats. Outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder) was put on the IL in a corresponding move with Hays returning.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Chattanooga, reports Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The plan is for him to be re-evaluated on Thursday with the potential to be activated on Friday. The 29-year-old has struggled to stay healthy this season, with his most recent IL-stint beginning on May 30 with a bone bruise in his foot. The Reds' newcomer has been great when healthy, batting .303 with six home runs in 31 games, so he's someone to target in five-outfielder leagues if you need the help.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) was scheduled to do some running before the team's series finale on Thursday against the visiting Minnesota Twins at Great American Ballpark, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith. The Reds are going to play it safe and take the process slower with Hays this time after he was shut down last week with lingering soreness in his left foot. The 29-year-old outfielder has been out with a bruised foot since late May and probably won't be able to make it back before the All-Star break in mid-July. If Hays doesn't have another setback once he's able to run full speed, he's likely going to need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the 10-day injured list. Hays was hitting .303 (36-for-119) with six homers in 31 games in an everyday role in left field before his injury, but he's already been on the IL twice with separate injuries.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) said his bruised left foot isn't any better after taking the last two days off from baseball activities, and now he'll shut things down for a few more days before easing back into running if the pain subsides enough. For now, the 29-year-old doesn't have any testing scheduled. The good news is that Hays doesn't have any structural damage to his foot, but he hasn't played since May 28 and will need to ramp up again once he resumes running before potentially going on a minor-league rehab assignment. He has been on the injured list multiple times already in 2025, and while Hays has hit a nice .303/.346/.555 with a .901 OPS in his 119 at-bats when available for the Reds, there's a chance we might not see him again until after the All-Star break. Will Benson and Spencer Steer have been platooning in left field with Hays out.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (foot) had another MRI exam on Wednesday morning because of persistent pain in his left food, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer. The good news is that the MRI still showed no fracture in his foot, and he's been diagnosed with a deep bone bruise. The 29-year-old will be re-evaluated on Friday. Hays has served as the team's regular left fielder this year when he's been healthy, but the problem is he's already been on the injured list several times and doesn't appear close to a return to the big leagues. The former third-rounder by the Baltimore Orioles in 2016 has slashed .303/.346/.555 with a .901 OPS, six home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs and two steals in his 119 at-bats. In the month of June with Hays on the IL, the Reds have mostly used a combination of Will Benson and Spencer Steer in left field.