Cincinnati Reds: Who will lead the team in home runs this season?

4. Scooter Gennett

Though no long-term deal has been agreed to as of yet, Scooter Gennett will still be part of the Cincinnati Reds in 2019. If the last two years have shown us anything, it’s that you better not count out the Cincinnati-native. Gennett will definitely be among the team leaders in home runs next season.

The 29-year-old Gennett was hoping for a long-term extension with his hometown ball club, but that has yet to materialize and it may not until the offseason, if ever. That may just add more fuel to Gennett’s fire, who’s been among the best power hitters on the team over the last two years.

When Scooter Gennett came to the Reds after being waived by the Milwaukee Brewers, I don’t think very many fans expected what they saw. After four years in Milwaukee saw Gennett hit a combined 35 homers in 1,526 at-bats, the Reds’ slugger sent a career-high 27 out of park in 461 at-bats during his first season in the Queen City.

Last year, Gennett’s power numbers dipped a little bit, as his home runs fell from 27 to 23 and his slugging percentage dropped from .531 to .490. With the dip in power, combined with top prospect Nick Senzel nipping at his heels, it’s not terribly surprising that the Reds passed for now on extending Gennett long term.

I think we’ll see a slight dip once again in Gennett’s power numbers, but nothing too extreme. Gennett is not just a home run hitter, as he was in the race for the NL batting title until the final two weeks of the season last year. Gennett can rake and will still be among the team leaders in homers next season.

Predicting Scooter Gennett’s home run total in 2019: 21 HRs