Cincinnati Reds: Five players looking to bounce back in the 2020 season

Not everyone on the 2019 Cincinnati Reds roster had a good season. Which five players are most likely to bounce back during their 2020 campaign?

The end of the college basketball season and the beginning of the baseball season coincide every year. Rebounding is key for those teams looking to make a run during March Madness, and it’s also going to be key for several players on the Cincinnati Reds roster. Which five players are looking for a bounce back season in 2020?

While the 2019 version of the Reds showed promise, the season ultimately ended in disappointment, with Cincinnati out of the postseason picture once again. After six straight losing seasons, the Reds front office added several reinforcements to this year’s squad, but there’s a few players who need to perform better than they did last year.

We saw Robert Stephenson turn a dismal 2018 showing into a fabulous run in 2019. The right-hander emerged as one of the best arms in the Reds bullpen last year. Anthony DeSclafani also rebounded from an injury-plagued career and finished among the Top 20 in the league in both strikeouts and ERA.

Which five players are most in need of that type of season in 2020? There were several candidates to choose from, but these five made the list. The Cincinnati Reds have a real shot to take home the National League Central crown in 2020, but in order to do so, everyone on the roster has to play up to their potential. Can these five players return to form?

1. Trevor Bauer, Right-handed pitcher

The Cincinnati Reds traded Yasiel Puig and their top prospect Taylor Trammell in order to land Trevor Bauer. The amount the Reds gave up was what you’d expect to surrender for a potential ace. What Bauer put up for Cincinnati in 2019 was not what you’d expect from the team’s best pitcher.

Bauer got paid in the offseason as an ace, and the Reds need that level of production from the right-hander in 2020 in order to make a run at the NL Central Division title. On paper, Cincinnati has the best rotation in the division, but the games aren’t played on paper and the Reds need Bauer to match level of production the team is expecting from Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray.

If the season started today, most fans would expect Castillo to take the hill on Opening Day. While I’d push back and say that Gray may be the more deserving candidate, I have no problem with La Piedra getting starting the season on the mound for the second consecutive season.

However, Trevor Bauer could easily be that guy as well. The 29-year-old has an unlimited repertoire of next-level stuff. According to FanGraphs, Bauer threw his fastball 42.3% of the time, but also mixed in a slider, a cutter, a curveball and a changeup. This guy is elite when he’s on his game.

Unfortunately, Reds Country didn’t see the best of Trevor Bauer in 2019. But, with this season being the right-handers last under team control, a knock-your-socks-off type of season from the California native could land him a sweet contract next winter. Look for Bauer to bounce back in a big way.

2. Joey Votto, First baseman

Every Reds fan’s favorite punching bag over the past two seasons has been first baseman Joey Votto. Votto has fallen short of the lofty standards that fans have for the six-time All-Star, but he’s also fallen short of the exceedingly high expectations the former MVP has for himself. Votto doesn’t have to be great in order for this team to win, but he has to be better.

The days of Joey Votto hitting 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs are over folks. Give it up. Yes, I’m aware of his gigantic salary over the next four years, but let’s not pretend like Votto is just showing up to collect a check. The 36-year-old is as professional as they come. Also, he’s not going to be traded, so let’s get that idea out of the way as well, okay?

Now, let’s address the issue at hand. No, Votto is highly unlikely to ever see the same type of success we saw from 2010-2017, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t be a productive major league player. But, in order to do that, Votto has to do what he does best, which is get on base.

For those fans looking for Joey Votto to drop to No. 6 in the Reds batting order, don’t hold your breath. The 13-year veteran still put up a respectable .357 on-base percentage in 2019, just one point below the team-leader, Eugenio Suárez.

I fully expect Votto to be in the No. 2 hole on Opening Day, but he has to be more productive that he was last year. Not from a power perspective, as the likes of Suárez, Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos can handle that. But, he needs to draw walks and make contact to either advance the leadoff hitter or get on base himself. Votto needs to finish 2020 with an OBP above .400.

4. Raisel Iglesias, Right-handed pitcher

No one on the Reds roster needs a shot at redemption more than Raisel Iglesias. The Cincinnati closer set a dubious mark in 2019, losing 12 games, the most ever by a Reds reliever. Iglesias seemed to balk at the idea of altering his role on last year’s team. Perhaps this season will offer better results.

Iglesias had been the Cincinnati Reds closer for two years prior to last season. While he earned a career-high (34) in saves last season, Iggy’s role was changed a bit. Rather than being used exclusively as Cincinnati’s closer, the right-hander found himself in several non-save situations.

Raisel Iglesias knew before the season began that his role was going to change. Reds manager David Bell was very outspoken before Opening Day last year that he planned to Raisel as the team’s go-to reliever, regardless of whether or not a save was in play.

Iglesias spoke out against his new role during the middle of the 2019 season, voicing displeasure over the way he was being utilized. The losses were piling up, and Iggy was feeling the heat. While his frustration is understandable, at the end of the day, his job is to get the opposing batter out, regardless of if it’s the fifth inning or the ninth inning.

The addition of Pedro Strop and the ascension of Michael Lorenzen and Robert Stephenson may cloud the role of Iglesias heading into the 2020 season. However, having an improved bullpen may lessen the pressure and allow Iggy to just go out and pitch. Let’s hope Raisel Iglesias returns to form in 2020.

5. Tucker Barnhart, Catcher

Tucker Barnhart will enter the 2020 season with a new approach at the plate. The 29-year-old will hit exclusively from the left-side after spending his entire career as a switch-hitter. The Reds catcher has always been regarded as a terrific defender, but his batting average dipped significantly in 2019. Hopefully this change will lead to positive results.

Last season was Barnhart’s worst offensive output in terms of batting average. Tucker slashed just .231/.328/.380, however, he did put up a career-high in home runs (11). Barnhart was shelved  for part of the season with an oblique injury.

Barnhart’s finish to the 2019 season was encouraging. After a slow start that saw him put up just a .191 batting average and .605 OPS through 60 games, Tucker Barnhart returned with a vengeance slashing .273/.367/.448 with 9 doubles, 6 homers and 22 RBIs to end his 2019 campaign.

That version of Barnhart would be a welcome sight to Reds Country in 2020. With a more balanced workload, as Tucker is likely to share catching responsibilities with Curt Casali, and a refined approach at the plate, Barnhart may be able to put up career-numbers before heading into the final year of his four-year contract.

While the Cincinnati front office were in the running for All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal this offseason, after the former Reds farmhand signed with the Chicago White Sox, Dick Williams and Nick Krall seemed to settle on the duo of Barnhart and Casali for the 2020 season. If Tucker can put up numbers that resemble league-average, it’ll be enough given the firepower this club has.