Austin Hays

Fantasy News

• White Sox's Austin Hays: Lands with White Sox

  Rotowire Jan 31, 2026

  Hays signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the White Sox on Saturday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. After sending Luis Robert to the Mets earlier in the month, the White Sox will add some talent back to their outfield by bringing in Hays. The 30-year-old enjoyed one of his best seasons in the majors last year with the Reds, slashing .266/.315/.453 with 15 homers, 64 RBI and 60 runs scored while adding seven steals in 103 games. He's primarily played in left field over the past few seasons, but the White Sox may look to take advantage of his arm strength in right field, keeping Andrew Benintendi (Achilles) in left.

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• Austin Hays: Enters free agency

  Rotowire Nov 5, 2025

  The Reds declined Hays' $12 million mutual option for 2026 on Wednesday. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout. The 30-year-old slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs over 103 regular-season contests for the Reds in 2025. The right-handed-hitting Hays batted .319/.400/.549 against left-handed pitching this season and could draw interest as a short-side platoon outfielder in free agency.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Back in lineup for Game 1

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2025

  Hays (back) will start in left field and bat cleanup Tuesday in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Dodgers. It's Hays' first start since Sept. 20, as he's been battling back spasms. He was able to see action as a pinch hitter in the final game of the regular season Sunday and will hit in the middle of the lineup against Blake Snell in the Dodgers as the Reds kick off postseason play.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Included on wild-card roster

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2025

  Hays (back) is on the Reds' wild-card roster. Hays hasn't started a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms, but he made a pinch-hitting appearance during Sunday's regular-season finale in Milwaukee and came out of it well enough to be included on his club's wild-card roster. With lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers on Tuesday, there's a good chance the right-handed-hitting Hays will be in the lineup.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: On bench for regular-season finale

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2025

  Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee. Hays took swings in the batting cage Saturday and felt good afterward, which is an encouraging sign, as he felt discomfort while hitting earlier in the week. Still, the outfielder will be idle for Cincinnati's regular-season finale. The Reds will clinch a spot in the postseason with a win or a Mets loss Sunday. It's unclear if Hays will be good to go in time for the wild-card round, however.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Responds well to work Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2025

  Hays (back) felt good after hitting in the batting cage Saturday, MLB.com reports. Hays had felt guarded with his injury in activities earlier in the week but came out of Saturday's session feeling "much better," according to Reds manager Terry Francona. Hays also did some running and agility drills on the field, but the team will monitor how he bounces back before making any decisions regarding his availability for Sunday's regular-season finale, a game in which the Reds can clinch a wild-card spot with a win (or a Mets loss).

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Out again Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2025

  Hays (back) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Milwaukee. Hays hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 20 due to back spasms. Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays tried hitting Thursday and still felt discomfort. Spencer Steer will fill left field Saturday.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Tries hitting

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2025

  Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that Hays (back) tried hitting Thursday and felt uncomfortable, MLB.com reports. Hays has not played since exiting last Saturday's game due to back spams. Gavin Lux and Will Benson have played left field while Hays has been out.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Remains out of lineup

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2025

  Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Friday's game in Milwaukee. Hays hasn't played since Sept. 20 because of back spasms. He reported improvement Thursday but was not available off the bench, and it's unclear whether he'll make it back before the end of the season. Gavin Lux is in left field and batting third for the Reds on Friday.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Feeling better

  Rotowire Sep 26, 2025

  Hays (back) was feeling better Thursday but not available to play, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Hays, who didn't respond well to running earlier in the week, has missed the last four games. It's unclear when, or if, Hays will be able to rejoin the club, which is still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Reds manager Terry Francona indicated Thursday that placement on the injured list is unlikely, as that would force Hays to miss postseason action, should Cincinnati qualify. "I think we're much better off trying to see if we can nurse him through this and have him be available," the manager said. Will Benson has started in left field all four games without Hays.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Held out again Wednesday

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2025

  Hays (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates. Hays will miss a third straight start as he deals with back spasms. He went through a pregame workout Tuesday to test out his back and that didn't go well, so it's unclear when he might be ready to play again. Will Benson will grab another start in left field for the Reds.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Tests his back

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2025

  Hays tested his back spasms by running on the field Tuesday and said it was "not great," MLB.com reports. Hays has missed the last two games after experiencing the back issue Saturday. Will Benson has filled in at left field while Hays is unavailable. Both of those starts were against right-handers.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Idle Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2025

  Hays (back) is out of the out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs. Hays left Saturday's 6-3 win due to back spasms, and he'll require at least one day off to recover. Will Benson, TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte will patrol the outfield from left to right.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Departs with back spasms

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2025

  Hays was removed from Saturday's game against the Cubs due to back spasms. Hays was lifted at the start of the sixth inning after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He was replaced in left field by Spencer Steer, who moved over from first base, while Sal Stewart entered the game to play first.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Idle for series finale

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2025

  Hays is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. Hays will get a chance to catch his breath Sunday after he had started in each of the Reds' last 12 games, during which he slashed .292/.300/.583 with four home runs, one stolen base, 10 RBI and seven runs. Will Benson will spell Hays in left field and will bat sixth.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Notches steal in loss

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2025

  Hays went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 3-0 loss to the Athletics. Hays extended his hitting streak to nine games, a span in which he has gone 11-for-36 (.306). The outfielder isn't known for his speed, with his steal Friday being his seventh of the year and first since he had a pair during a late-August series versus the Diamondbacks. Hays has been a steady bat in the middle of the order this year, posting a .266/.316/.463 slash line, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 56 runs scored, 15 doubles and five triples over 95 contests.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Absent from lineup

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2025

  Hays isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus San Diego. Hays will head to the bench Tuesday in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, giving Gavin Lux a chance to start in left field and bat fourth against right-hander Michael King.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Solo homer in loss

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2025

  Hays went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Padres. Hays notched a multi-hit effort Monday, punctuated by his 15th homer of the year in the sixth inning. The left fielder has been driving the ball lately, slugging .632 over his past 15 games with three doubles, five long balls and 15 RBI.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Drives in four in Tuesday's loss

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2025

  Hays went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Blue Jays. The veteran outfielder launched a three-run homer off Jose Berrios in the second inning as the Reds tried to climb out of an early 8-1 hole, but they were never quite able to get level. Hays is up to 13 long balls on the season, including three in his last seven games, and since Aug. 15 he's slashing an impressive .306/.328/.548 with 15 RBI in 17 contests.

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• Reds' Austin Hays: Supplies go-ahead hit

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2025

  Hays went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals. Hays provided the big pop with a two-run home run in the fifth inning that broke a 3-3 tie and turned out to be the game-winning blow. It was the 12th homer in 85 games for Hays, who has bounced back nicely following a down season in 2024, when he posted a career-low .699 OPS with five homers in 85 games.

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