A Look at Ex-Cincinnati Reds in the 2015 MLB Playoffs

The Cincinnati Reds aren’t in the playoffs, but many of their former players are. Here’s a list of ex-Reds that you’ll see over the coming weeks in this year’s postseason.

Kansas City Royals

Johnny Cueto headlines this list, having been traded to Kansas City a bit over two months ago. It’s been a rough time for Cueto since heading to the American League, as he’s posted a 4.76 ERA, 4.06 FIP and 1.45 WHIP through 13 starts in a Royals uniform. Cueto will be tabbed to start game two of the ALDS against either the Yankees or Astros.

You’ll see another ex-Reds ace in game three as Edinson Volquez is set to toe the rubber. The Royals signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract last offseason after his bounce-back year with the Pirates in 2014. With Kansas City, Volquez is 13-9 with a 3.55 ERA, 3.82 FIP and 1.31 WHIP.

Jonny Gomes will be one of the Royals’ go-to guys off the bench during the postseason, having been traded from the Braves in late August. Gomes hasn’t had the best of seasons in 2015, hitting just .213/.313/.347 between his two clubs, but he still draws plenty of walks and is always threat to take you deep as he’s launched seven home runs in 225 at-bats.

The fourth former Red on the Royals’ playoff roster is one that never actually threw a pitch in a Cincinnati uniform: Ryan Madson. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in spring training of 2012, Madson hadn’t thrown a pitch until the Royals signed him to a minor-league deal before this season. He wound up making the club out of spring training and has helped solidify an already strong bullpen, posting a 2.13 ERA, 3.09 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in his return to the big leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have a trio of former Reds on their roster, the most memorable name being Chris Heisey. It’s been a rough season for Heisey since being traded from Cincinnati last December, spending most of the year in Triple-A and getting released by the Dodgers on Aug. 7. He was signed by the Blue Jays on Aug. 13, who turned around and traded him right back to L.A. at the end of the month. Heisey hit just .182/.347/.327 with two homers in 72 plate appearances with the Dodgers, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be on their playoff roster.

A pair of players who came up through the Reds farm system can also be found on the Dodgers roster in Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal.

Turner never played for the Reds, but has become one of the best utility players in the game. He hit .294/.370/.491 with 43 extra-base hits in the regular season and will play a prominent role in the postseason.

Grandal, who also did not don a Cincinnati uniform before he was traded away, was named to his first All-Star team this year after a big first half. He struggled mightily after the All-Star break, however, which brought his slash-line numbers down to .234/.353/.403.

Chicago Cubs

Travis Wood is back in the postseason after getting his first taste of October baseball with the Reds in 2010. He’s primarily pitched out of the bullpen this year, putting up a 3.84 ERA, 3.40 FIP and 1.24 WHIP. Wood’s transition to a relief role has helped him significantly increase his strikeouts to a career-high rate of 10.5 K/9.

When Jon Lester is on the mound, you’ll see a familiar face behind the plate in David Ross. The Cubs are Ross’ third team since being released by the Reds in 2008. The 38-year-old doesn’t have much to offer offensively anymore (he batted just .176/.267/.252 in limited playing time this year), but has extended his career by being the personal catcher to one of the best hurlers in the game.

Chris Denorfia played briefly for the Reds in 2005 and 2006, and has made a nice career out of being a backup outfielder. He signed with the Cubs before the season and has hit .269/.319/.373 with 15 extra-base hits in 231 plate apperances.

Texas Rangers

Toronto Blue Jays

Since being traded for Scott Rolen in 2009, Edwin Encarnacion has really figured things out in Toronto. This season, he put up his fourth straight year of hitting 34 or more home runs and drove home 111 runs in the middle of the Blue Jays’ potent lineup as their designated hitter and part-time first baseman.

The Blue Jays also have Jeff Francis — who made one start with the Reds in 2014 — on their roster, but he hasn’t pitched well in 2015 and it seems unlikely that he’ll be on their playoff squad.

New York Yankees

Taking over for Derek Jeter would be no easy task for anyone, but Didi Gregorius has played quite well in his first season in the Bronx. He hit .265/.318/.370 with 35 extra-base hits as the Yankees new shortstop and was one of their best hitters in the second half.

St. Louis Cardinals

Pitching for his third NL Central team in as many years, Jonathan Broxton has found himself back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Broxton struggled early on in the year with the Milwaukee Brewers, but has rediscovered his form since being dealt to the Cardinals. Serving as one of their late-inning relievers, Broxton boasts a 2.66 ERA, 3.56 FIP and 1.35 WHIP in 26 appearances.

Next: 4 Reds who exceeded expectations in 2015

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