Cincinnati Reds – A Night to Remember for a Hometown Boy

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

One of the Cincinnati Reds’ own has now inserted himself into baseball’s magical history.

On a mild June evening, Cincinnati Reds’ back-up Scooter Gennett accomplished a feat only sixteen other players have done. The incumbent second basemen bashed four home runs and likewise knocked in ten RBIs. By the same token, he also went 5 for 5. On top of that, Gennett  has a career .281 batting average via FanGraphs and not really known for his pop. Although his historic power surge is what makes baseball so magnificent.

The Milwaukee Brewers took him in the 12th round of the 2009 Amateur Draft. He was drafted straight out of Sarasota High School, which is just south of Tampa Bay. Gennett was also the #496th pick, for which he has exceeded expectations.  The “no-name” label can be thrown off in one night in the MLB.

Numbers to the Name for the Cincinnati Reds’ New Slugger

The Cincinnati Reds nabbed Gennett off waivers on the twenty eighth of March, following a season in which he slashed .263/.317/.412 with 14 homers and 56 RBIs. Moreover, this season he is hitting a scorching .300 BA with 7 home runs and 31 RBIs. He has done it in only 130 plate appearances, which is  impressive considering last year the former Brewer slugged those 14 home runs in 546 PAs. Although he is underrated, the Reds grabbed a solid player off the waiver wire. Gennett looks set up for his career best season with his recent success.

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In all of this, Cincy’s own has etched his name into MLB record books. Gennett reflected on his historic night saying that “It’s an honor for sure” via MLB.com.

Scooter Gennett was the face of baseball that night.

The moment will live on forever.

First Time for Cincinnati Reds, 17th Time in MLB

This is just the most recent time in MLB that a player has hit four home runs in a single game, not the first.  16 times before someone has accomplished the feat  It is , however, the first time for the Reds.

The first time was back before 1900 in 1894 by Booby Lowe of the Boston Beaneaters.  It was the first of two times that the Reds have surrendered four home runs in a game.   The Beaneaters have since moved twice and are now the Atlanta Braves.

The most recent time prior to Gennett was on May 8, 2012 by former Red Josh Hamilton against the Baltimore Orioles.  Hamilton has 200 career home runs, but Gennett is not so lucky.  As it stands now, Gennett has fewer career home runs on the list than anyone else.

Next: The rebuild is working for the Reds

It is a day that Gennett will never forget.  It is a game that the fans will never forget who were there.  Hopefully, the Reds will have more highlights like this as the season progresses.