Austin Hays was smiling and excited inside the Reds’ clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon. For the first time during the 2025 regular season, Hays was in Cincinnati's starting lineup after missing the first 16 games with a left calf strain.

Austin Hays had two hits, a home run, and four runs batted in on Tuesday night while making his Cincinnati Reds debut. He became just the third Reds player since 1920 to have four or more RBI in their debut with the team,

Speaking to reporters in his Great American Ball Park office prior to Saturday's Reds-Pirates game, Reds manager Terry Francona provided updates on outfielder Austin Hays (calf), who started the big-league season on the IL and is progressing with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.