Cincinnati Reds: Ranking the top 10 hitters of the decade (2010-2019)

Great American Ball Park makes for some good offensive statistics, but who were the Top 10 Cincinnati Reds hitters of the past decade?

The Cincinnati Reds have a storied history, with some of the greatest hitters of the game suiting up in the Queen City. Johnny Bench, George Foster, and Frank Robinson were all prominent figures in Reds history. Heck, the Hit King himself, Pete Rose, donned the No. 14 for 19 years in Cincinnati. But, who were the best Reds hitters from the past decade?

The past decade has seen a few highs, and unfortunately, several lows for Reds hitters. After much success in early part of the decade, a rebuild that started in 2014 still seems to be dragging on. That said, 2019 offered a glimpse into the future, and several young players may be coming into their own as we embark on a new decade of Reds baseball.

Joey Votto has been the most consistent hitter for Cincinnati over the last 10 years, and will, no doubt, find his name on this list. A few more hitters have made their mark of late. Aristides Aquino offers promise for the Reds heading into the next decade after blasting 12 homers the month of August last year.

So, while there’s no exact science to it, we’ll attempt to rank the Top 10 Cincinnati Reds hitters hitters over the past decade. You’re bound to see some names that you agree with and a few you don’t. Some may surprise you, while others are a no-brainer. We hope you enjoy a trip down memory lane, as we take a look back at the Top 10 hitters from 2010-2019.

9. Zack Cozart, Shortstop (2011-2017)

A more reasonable name comes in a No. 9. Zack Cozart spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds before signing a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels following his All-Star season of 2017. Cozart was the Reds most consistent shortstop of the decade, but injuries limited his impact nearly every season of his Cincinnati career.

After Barry Larkin‘s retirement following the 2004 season, the Reds struggled to find a consistent shortstop to take over for the Hall of the Famer. Felipe Lopez, Alex Gonzalez, Paul Janish, and Orlando Cabrera all had failed attempts over the years to fill Larkin’s massive shoes. While Cozart fell short as well, he was the only shortstop to display some consistent work with the bat.

During his seven-year run with Cincinnati, Cozart hit .254 with 82 home runs and 280 RBIs. Cozart’s best season came during 2017. The Tennessee native slashed .297/.385/.548 with 24 doubles, 24 home runs, and 63 RBIs. His All-Star campaign earned him the gift of a donkey from teammate Joey Votto.

The 2017 season was a banner year for the shortstop, but like many seasons before it, Cozart spent a considerable amount of time on the disabled list. Only twice during his seven seasons in Cincinnati did Zack Cozart surpass 140 games played. Had it not been for injuries, Cozart likely would’ve found his name higher on this list.

8. Shin-Soo Choo, Outfielder (2013)

Though he only played one season with the Cincinnati Reds, Shin-Soo Choo is more than deserving to be on this list. The Korean-born outfielder spent the first several seasons of his career with the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians before being traded to the Reds during the 2012 offseason.

In exchange for Choo, Cincinnati shipped Drew Stubbs and Didi Gregorius out of town. During 2013, his lone season in the Queen City, Shin-Soo Choo was first on the team in steals (20) and runs scored (107), second in walks (112) and doubles (34), and third in home runs (21). His offensive production at the top of the order helped set the table for the likes of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.

Choo saw a few milestones during his time with the Reds. On August 27th, a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Choo blasted his 100th career home run. Choo also held a rather dubious record for the Reds, being plunked by a pitch on September 9th that season, Choo set the club mark for hit-by-pitch (26). Derek Dietrich almost eclipsed that record last season, but fell one short.

Choo used his remarkable 2013 season to parlay a seven-year/$130M contract with the Texas Rangers, effectively ending his time in Cincinnati after just one season. While it was just one year, Shin-Soo. Choo is more than deserving to make the list. Hopefully the Reds can find a leadoff hitter as productive as Choo with the recent signing of Shogo Akiyama.

7. Adam Duvall, Outfielder (2015-2018)

Adam Duvall, along with Keury Mella, was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds at the 2015 trade deadline. In exchange, the Reds shipped Mike Leake to the San Francisco Giants. While Mella was supposed to be the cornerstone of that deal, in actually, Duvall had the better career. Duvall made a trip to the Midsummer Classic in 2016 before being dealt to the Atlanta Braves in 2018.

Duvall played on 28 games before being dealt to the Reds prior to 2015, and played just 27 games for Cincinnati that season. However, after making the Opening Day roster in 2016, Duvall exploded onto the scene. By June, Duvall was tied for the major league lead in homers and was selected to the All-Star Game as reserve.

The Reds slugger competed in the Home Run Derby, but fell in the semifinals to former Reds third baseman Todd Frazier. Duvall finished 2016 with 33 home runs to lead the team. Duvall also led the club in RBIs (103) and was third in OPS (.795), walks (41), and slugging (.498). Unfortunately, Duvall also led the Reds in strikeouts (164).

Adam Duvall was traded at the deadline during the 2018 season. The former Louisville Cardinal was sent to Atalanta. In return, the Reds received pitcher Matt Wisler and Lucas Sims, as well as outfielder Preston Tucker. Duvall wrapped up his Reds career with 84 home runs and 272 RBIs. His batting average, unfortunately, was just .235.

6. Scooter Gennett, Second baseman (2017-2019)

The Reds may not have made a better waiver wire pickup this past decade than Scooter Gennett. The former Milwaukee Brewers second baseman was claimed off waivers prior to the 2017 season and hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Opening Day against the Philadelphia Phillies that year.

The Cincinnati native had one of the best moments of the decade on June 6, 2017. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, Scooter launched four home runs, tying a club record. Gennett’s 10 RBIs set a career-high. Gennett finished the 2017 season with a slash line of .295/.342/.531 with 27 home runs and 97 RBIs.

Gennett earned a one-year deal the following season and landed a trip to the All-Star Game. Gennett hit a pinch-hit, game-tying homer in the ninth inning of the Midsummer Classic, but the National League fell the American League 8-6 in extra innings. Scooter hit .310 that season, and fell just short of leading the NL in batting. Christian Yelich was the eventual MVP and batting champion.

Scooter Gennett was poised to be a leader for the Reds heading into 2019, but a severe groin injury during spring training kept him out of action for almost three months. Upon his return, Scooter hit just .217 and failed to hit a home run. Gennett was eventually dealt to the San Francisco Giants.

5. Brandon Phillips, Second baseman (2006-2017)

One of the best trades in Cincinnati Reds history occurred on April 7, 2006 when the Cleveland Indians dealt Brandon Phillips to the Queen City. Some folks may view this as a bit low for Phillips, but don’t forget we’re just dealing with the past 10 years. Phillips still earned three trips to the All-Star Game and earned three Gold Gloves during his final seven seasons in Cincinnati.

Known more for his fielding prowess, Dat Dude BP was also a solid hitter at the dish. For his career, Phillips hit .279 with 191 home runs and 851 RBIs. Over the past decade, Phillips slashed .281/.325/.415 with 103 homers and 506 RBIs. BP also swiped 89 bases over his final seven seasons in Cincinnati.

A fan-favorite, Phillips may not have earned the love of Reds Country more than during the brawl he incited with the St. Louis Cardinals. Phillips and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina got into an exchange of words which led to a benches-clearing brawl between the two NL Central rivals. Phillips had said previously that he hated the Cardinals, and that didn’t sit too well with Molina and his teammates.

Phillips still maintained a high batting average over his final few seasons in Cincinnati, but Dat Dude lost some power, and his performance was no longer matching his paycheck. Phillips. waived his no-trade clause and was traded to Atlanta in 2017 following a career with Cincinnati that will, no doubt, land him in the Reds Hall of Fame.

4. Todd Frazier, Third baseman (2011-2015)

The Toddfather comes in at No. 4 on the list. Todd Frazier‘s five seasons saw the third baseman go to two All-Star Games and collect 108 home runs during his time with the Cincinnati Reds. Before becoming a star in the big leagues, Frazier starred for the Toms River East American Little League All-Star team in 1998 that went to Williamsport.

Frazier made his major league debut in 2011 and hit his first homer off Barry Zito on July 31st. That was one of many that Reds fans were going to see over Frazier’s time in the Queen City. Frazier saw a much more prominent role with the team in 2012. Hitting .273 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs, Frazier finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Todd Frazier’s production fell off the following season. Hitting just .234 with a .721 OPS, Frazier’s lack of production hurt the Reds chances to repeat as NL Central champs in 2013. Though the team still won 90 games, Cincinnati fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Wild Card Game. Frazier made up for it the following two seasons, with back-to-back All-Star appearances.

Frazier’s most memorable moment during his time with the Cincinnati Reds was undoubtedly the 2015 Home Run Derby. In front of the hometown fans at Great American Ball Park, Frazier defeated former Home Run Derby champ Prince Fielder and third baseman Josh Donaldson before going head to head with Jon Pederson. Frazier took home the crown in front of a packed house at GABP.

3. Eugenio Suárez, Third baseman (2015-present)

If the Cincinnati Reds trade for Brandon Phillips was one of the best in team history, who knows how the deal that brought Eugenio Suárez to Cincinnati will be viewed when all is said and done. Geno came to the Queen City on December 11, 2014 in exchange for pitcher Alfredo Símon. Last season, Suárez broke the record for most home runs (49) in a season by a Venezuelan-born player.

Suárez began his Reds career as the team’s starting shortstop following an injury to Zack Cozart. Geno played 90 games during his first season in Cincinnati and quickly displayed his skillset, hitting for .280 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and 48 RBIs in his first season in Cincinnati. A move to third base the following season saw a drop in Geno’s defense, but not at the plate.

Over the past four seasons, Suárez has absolutely raked. Hitting .265/.352/.493 since 2015, Eugenio Suárez has established himself as one of the best hitters in the game. Last season, Geno was neck-and-neck with Pete Alonso for the major league lead in homers, falling just short of the Mets rookie’s mark.

Heading into the next decade, the Cincinnati Reds expect big things from Eugenio Suárez. Having Joey Votto as the team’s best player for the last 10 years, it would appear that Suárez will take that mantle heading into 2020. If Eugenio Suárez continues to put up the numbers we’ve seen for the past several seasons, we could be looking at an all-time Reds great.

2. Jay Bruce, Outfielder (2008-2016)

Bruuuuuuuuce! Jay Bruce was one of the best players for the Cincinnati Reds over the past decade. Bruce was the 12th player taken in the 2005 MLB Draft and made his major league debut on May 27, 2008. Bruce went 3-for-3 in his first game with the Reds, racking up a double and two singles. Bruce launched his first big league homer on May 31, 2008 in a walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves.

There was no bigger moment in Bruce’s tenure with Cincinnati than his walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on September 28, 2010. Stepping up to the plate with the score knotted at 2 runs apiece, Bruce swung at the first pitch he saw and launched it towards the batter’s eye in center field.

Bruce knew it the second he hit it. With his index finger raised toward the sky and the capacity crowd at Great American Ball Park rising to their feet, Bruce watched the ball fly over the center field wall while rounding first base. The dugout emptied, the bullpen overflowed onto the field, the fans showered the players with cheers, and Bruce was mobbed by his teammates at home plate.

Bruce spent nine years in Cincinnati. The left-handed slugger smacked 233 home runs, racked up 718 doubles, and had a career-OPS of .789 while playing in front of thee fans at GABP. While leading the league in RBIs during the 2016 season, Bruce was dealt to the New York Mets as the Reds were in full-on rebuild mode.

1. Joey Votto, First baseman (2008-present)

There is absolutely no doubt that Joey Votto was the best hitter for the Cincinnati Reds over the past decade. In fact, there are few hitters throughout Major League Baseball, except for Mike Trout, who were better than Votto over the past 10 years. His struggles the past two seasons notwithstanding, Votto is one of the greatest hitters of his generation.

As with most sports, baseball is a “what have you done for me lately” type of game. Well, lately, Joey Votto hasn’t not performed up to the level that most fans throughout Reds Country have come to expect from the six-time All-Star. However, don’t let the last two years cloud your view, Joey Votto is, unquestionably, one of the best players to ever suit up for the Cincinnati Reds.

Votto spoiled fans over the years. After coming in second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2008, Votto became a force in the middle of the Reds lineup. In 2010, Votto took home the NL MVP and helped lead the Reds back to the NL Central title for the first time in 20 years. That season, Votto led the league in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.

Following the 2010 season, Votto led the league in OBP for three consecutive seasons. He also led the league in walks, a familiar thing for fans of Votto to watch over the years. Just before the 2012 season kicked off, the Reds and Votto agreed to a 10-year/$225M contract extension. At the time, it was the longest active deal in baseball.

Joey Votto’s numbers speak for themselves. Over the past 10 seasons, Votto’s hit .306 with a .428 on-base percentage and a .944 OPS. He’s launched 231 home runs, accounted for 759 RBIs, drawn 1,046 walks, and has 327 doubles. Votto has earned six All-Star appearances, a Gold Glove, and an MVP during that time. Joey Votto is, without question, the best hitter of the decade.