Cincinnati Reds’ Scooter Gennett taking advantage of his career rebirth

When the Cincinnati Reds claimed Scooter Gennett off of waivers, it could have been the beginning of the end.

At the end of spring training the Cincinnati Reds claimed Scooter Gennett off of waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers.  For a major league player those teams both looked like career purgatory.  Instead, the Brewers have been leading the National League Central for much of the first half and the Reds have been a solid landing space for Gennett.

The best part about Gennett’s resurgence is that it isn’t really a resurgence.  Gennett is just being the same solid player that he has been every year of his career, save 2015.  2015 was difficult, but the rest of his career has been consistent.

Gennett has been a .280 batter with an OBP .315 for his career.  This season, he is batting .284 with a .327 OBP.  Of course with that four home run game a few weeks ago, Gennett got a scooter and reached his average season home run total at the same time.

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Gennett has also shown a new ability to play multiple positions.  In his time with the Brewers Gennett was nearly exclusively a second baseman, only playing one game in right field in four years.  For the Reds Gennett has started games at third base, left field and right field in addition to his usual second base.

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Scooter Gennett may have shown the Cincinnati Reds enough to be a part of their plans in 2018 and beyond.

Gennett was eligible for arbitration this past off-season, but signed with the Brewers to avoid it.  That means that the Reds have two years of arbitration eligible Gennett at their disposal.  That could be as a starter or a bench player.

Right now, Gennett is starting at second with Zack Cozart on the DL.  He should stay in the line-up when Cozart returns for the likely short period that Cozart will remain on the Reds.  Gennett has earned the second base job until Dilson Herrera is ready to challenge for it this season or next.

The Reds are not ready to compete yet, but could be as early as next year.  As a left-handed batting infielder, Gennett is a nice luxury in the NL.  Gennett could be the perfect back-up and fill-in starter for a competitive team.

Next: With Scooter at second, that leaves Peraza at short

If the Reds can get back to competing, Gennett makes perfect sense for the team.  If they can’t Gennett makes perfect sense to trade.  In any case, Gennett should enjoy his scooter the rest of this season in Cincinnati’s line-up.