Cincinnati Reds: Three players most likely to have a breakout season

Last year, Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo had a breakout season. Which three Reds players are most likely to have a breakout season in 2020?

What really defines a breakout season? We all know one when we see. It usually involves a younger player, brimming with unrealized potential who finally figures it out and puts together a memorable season. Luis Castillo had, what many would call, a breakout season in 2019. Which three players on the Cincinnati Reds roster are most likely to follow in Castillo’s footsteps?

In 2018, Castillo showed flashes of the player we’d all come to know and love. That year, La Peidra went 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA in 31 starts. Castillo struck out 165 batters and recorded an ERA+ of 97. Last year, Castillo went to his first All-Star Game and put up a 15-8 record with a 3.40 ERA in 32 starts. The right-hander struck out 226 batters and his ERA+ jumped up to 133.

In 2018, it could be argued that Eugenio Suárez had his breakout season. At 26-years old, Suárez saw a big jump in power numbers from the year prior, as his slugging percentage went from .461 to .526. Geno also bumped his home run total from 26 in 2017 to 34 in 2018. The Reds third baseman also set a career-high in RBIs (104).

So, which player on the Reds may experience a similar season to what fans saw from Suárez in 2018 and Castillo in 2019? Will it be a pitcher? Is there a position player on this year’s team ready to make that leap? Let’s examine the three most likely candidates on the Cincinnati Reds roster who’s ready to jump from starter to star.

2. Robert Stephenson, Right-handed pitcher

Robert Stephenson was all but a forgotten member of the Cincinnati pitching staff following the 2018 season. After being drafted in the first-round out of high school and having little success to show for it, the 25-year-old went 0-2 with 9.26 ERA in 4 games that year. But a bounce-back performance in 2019 has setup Stephenson to make a big leap this coming season.

If Raisel Iglesias struggles as the Reds closer, look for Stephenson or Pedro Strop to take over in the ninth inning. Stephenson has just one save to his name during his four-year career, but he showed that he has the stuff to get the job done late in games last season.

In 2019, Bob Steve put up career-numbers. In 57 relief appearances, Stephenson went 3-2 with a 3.76 ERA in 64.2 innings of work. The 26-year-old struck out 81 batters, and finally realized that walks didn’t have to be part of his game.

For his career, Stephenson’s walk-rate was virtually unfathomable. In 2017, Stephenson’s walk-rate was 13.8% and his BB/9 was 5.63. In 2018, those numbers went even higher. According to FanGraphs, Stephenson’s walk-rate that season was 19.1% and his BB/9 was 9.26. Last season, however, Stephenson turned it around and had a walk-rate of 9.2% and a BB/9 of 3.34.

As impressive was Robert Stephenson’s strikeout rate in 2019. After putting up a strikeout-rate of just 17.5% in 2018, the lowest of his major league career, Stephenson’s strikeout-rate rose to 30.9%. To say that Stephenson has found a home in the bullpen would be an understatement. Look for Bob Steve to become a household name in 2020.

3. Nick Senzel, Outfielder

Nick Senzel made his big league debut in 2019, but it didn’t go as planned. The former first-round entered the season with a lot of hype, and though he adjusted well to his new position, the rookie lacked consistency at the plate. If Senzel is able to show that he’s healthy, the 24-year-old has all the tools to become a force in the Cincinnati Reds lineup.

The talent is there. No one is questioning that. The questions surround concerns about Senzel’s durability, and they’re valid. I don’t believe he’s injury-prone as some fans like to say, but he’s had a rash of bad luck when it comes to injuries. The most serious injury is one Senzel’s still dealing with, a torn right labrum that will limit his availability during the early-part of spring training.

Senzel may appear to be a player without a position. After all, Cincinnati signed Shogo Akiyama this past winter to a three-year/$21M deal. Mike Moustakas was inked to a four-year contract worth $64M and he’s slated to man second base, a position many fans expected Senzel to fill in 2020.

The good thing for Senzel is that he’s a versatile defender. Learning how to play center field last spring will only enhance his value to David Bell this season. Fans saw umpteen different double-switches from the Reds skipper last season, and one should fully expect to see more of the same in 2020.

Senzel’s ability to play several different positions will help him find playing time in as lot of games this season. Senzel’s biggest question mark, as stated earlier, is his health. If last year’s rookie can stay on the field, then fans could be in for quite a treat in 2020.