Cincinnati signed the former minor league 1st round pick

The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their organizational depth on Wednesday by signing infielder Michael Chavis minor league contractwhich includes an invitation to big league spring training. The 30-year veteran returns to North America after a brief stint in Japan, where he played 38 games for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball, hitting just .171/.267/.352.

A 2014 first-round pick (26th overall) of the Boston Red Sox, Chavis has a long professional history in both MLB and the minors. He made his major league debut in 2019 with Boston, hitting 18 home runs in 382 plate appearances during a so-called “hit ball” season, although he struck out in 33.2% of his plate appearances. Over 1,186 games in the major leagues spanning Boston, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals, Chavis has a .238/.283/.401 batting line, 42 home runs, a 31.9% strikeout rate and a 5.4% walk rate, amounting to an 80 vRC+. His rookie season, however, was impressive with 18 homers in 95 games and a .766 OPS.

Despite his inconsistency in the majors, Chavis has pitched in Triple-A the last two seasons. Between 2024 and 2025, he worked 740 plate appearances at the Triple-A level, hitting .270/.339/.483 with a 103 vRC+ and a slugging 22.3% strikeout rate. His minor league record also shows positional versatility, having played all three infield spots nonstop, as well as the corner infield.

Chavis’ professional career has included highs and lows. In 2017, he launched 31 home runs at High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, earning recognition as Boston’s No. 2 prospect according to MLB.com. He has also faced challenges, including an 80-game suspension in 2018 for a performance-enhancing drug violation that he said was unintentional. After finishing in MLB and Triple-A, Chavis went overseas to Japan in 2025, before returning to the United States.

For Cincinnati, Chavis adds experienced depth to a group of players at a position with several uncertainties. Matt McClain was supposed to be the second baseman, but after missing 2024 with an injury, he struggled with the bullpen in 2025. Sal Stewart and the trio of Spencer Steer, Gavin Lux and Noelvy Marte can play multiple spots, but none have been more than league-average forwards.

Chavis’ experience and flexibility give the Reds an option if injuries or performance issues arise. He also retains one minor league option, allowing the team to move him between the minors and majors as needed.