The Cincinnati Reds promoted one of their top prospects, outfielder Jesse Winker, from Triple-A Louisville on Friday before the second game of a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
Reliever Barrett Astin was optioned to Louisville to make room on the roster for Winker, who will not in the starting lineup Friday. When Winker plays, he will make his big-league debut.
Winker, 23, hit .323 in eight games with the Louisville Bats. The Reds drafted him in 2012. He hit .303 in 106 games with the Bats last season. Baseball America ranked Winker the sixth-best Reds prospect in January.
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