Cincinnati Reds fans, brace yourselves: the team has added a trio of players – Garrett hampson, Josh Staumont, and Brandon Leibrandt – to minor league deals in December, according to each player’s official MLB.com profile page. Hampson’s deal was also announced today on the Reds’ official X feed,with the added news that he’s been invited to big league Spring Training.
- Garrett Hampson, a utility player, returns to Cincinnati after a brief stint in 2025.
- Right-hander Josh Staumont is looking to rebound after a full year sidelined by injury.
- Left-hander Brandon Leibrandt aims to build on success in the chinese Professional Baseball League.
Hampson is no stranger to the Queen City, having appeared in nine games for the Reds in 2025. His journey since then has been a whirlwind: a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks,a release in May,a fast return to Cincinnati,a waiver claim by the Cardinals,and ultimately,free agency after another release from St. Louis in September. Over 62 games and 91 plate appearances across those three teams,Hampson managed a .143 batting average.
While his offensive numbers weren’t stellar – even dipping below his career .240 average – Hampson’s value lies in his defensive flexibility. He’s logged at least eight games at every position except catcher, showcasing his ability to fill in wherever needed.During his previous time with the Reds, he even saw action at second base, third base, shortstop, and center field.
However, the Reds already boast a roster full of multi-position players, meaning Hampson will face an uphill battle to secure a spot. Adding to the challenge, Hampson is out of minor league options, while Staumont has one remaining and Leibrandt has two.
Staumont’s Road to Recovery
Staumont returns to the Reds after a 2025 season cut short by a preseason injury that prevented him from pitching at any level. before that, the right-hander had pitched in six consecutive big league seasons, amassing a 3.97 ERA over 192 2/3 innings with the Royals and Twins. Once considered a potential closer for Kansas city, injuries, including thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in 2023, derailed his progress.
His fastball velocity dipped from an average of 98 mph in 2020 to 94.3 mph in 2024, and his strikeout rate declined accordingly. Control has always been a concern for Staumont, making his outlook entering his age-32 season uncertain after a year away from the mound. The Reds, familiar with his health situation, are taking a low-risk approach by bringing him to camp on a minor league deal.
Leibrandt seeks Another Prospect
Leibrandt is also a familiar face, having posted a 9.95 ERA over 6 1/3 innings (two appearances) for the Reds in 2024. his MLB experience is limited to that brief stint and five games (nine innings) with the Marlins in 2020. The rest of his career has been spent in the minors, independent leagues, and most recently, with the CTBC Brothers in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2025.
He found success in the CPBL, recording a 1.94 ERA and 5.37% walk rate over 83 1/3 innings,despite a 16.45% strikeout rate. This performance caught the attention of Cincinnati, and Leibrandt is expected to provide rotation depth at the Triple-A level.
