MLB Playoffs: Three most unlikely Reds players to be postseason heroes

Which three Reds players could surpass expectations in the MLB Playoffs?

The MLB Playoffs are here and the Cincinnati Reds miraculous run to the postseason gives fans hope that their team could make some noise in October. It won’t be easy, as the Reds first test comes in the form of the National League East Champions, the Atlanta Braves. The Reds may need some unsung heroes to step up. Who might they be?

Look, Reds Country expects Trevor Bauer to be dominant on the hill. The fans in Cincinnati expect Amir Garrett to shutdown left-handed batters late in the game. Mike Moustakas has a ton of postseason experience, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all for him to have success in the 2020 MLB Playoffs.

But it’s going to take more than seven shutout innings from Trevor Bauer, a lockdown performance in the eight inning from Garrett and a two-run home run from Moustakas to beat the Atlanta Braves. Cincinnati is going to need for some of their lesser known players to step up when the lights are at their brightest.

Who might that be? While some of the Reds role players definitely need to show up as well, let’s focus on some of this team’s starters who must exceed expectations. You’ll find no bench players here, as we’re looking at three Reds players who are likely to play meaningful innings and need to have success when they’re on the field.

2. Nick Senzel, Reds centerfielder

The Reds don’t need Nick Senzel to reach the lofty exceptions that come with being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, but it sure would be great if he did so during the MLB Playoffs. Reds coaches, front office staff and fans alike have been waiting for that signature moment of Senzel’s young career. This postseason could be just that for the second-year outfielder.

To say that Senzel’s road to the majors has been a bumpy one would be an understatement. After a stellar career at the University of Tennessee, Senzel was taken in the first-round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. After back-to-back successful seasons in the minors, it looked like Senzel was on his way to stardom at the big leagues.

Unfortunately, a string of injuries too numerous to count have befallen the young prospect, and his inability to stay on the filed has drastically impeded Nick Senzel’s development. The transition from third base to the outfield probably hasn’t helped, but the 25-year-old seems comfortable on the outfield grass.

It’s in the batter’s box where Senzel needs to make his mark. Last season, Senzel started out well, but an adjustment to his swing by former hitting coach Tuner Ward sent Senzel’s promising rookie season into a tailspin. A season-ending injury put Senzel on the shelf for the last several weeks of the 2019 season and offseason surgery slowed his progress this spring.

The 2020 MLB Playoffs will give Nick Senzel an opportunity to put all the bad vibes behind him and focus on good vibes only. Senzel has all the tools to be an All-Star level talent, but he has to stay healthy. He’ll likely be hitting out of the No. 7 hole, and the Cincinnati Reds could really use some extra offense from the bottom-third of the batting order.

3. Raisel Iglesias, Reds reliever

I firmly believe that Reds closer Raisel Iglesias might hold the key to this year’s Cincinnati team advancing in the MLB Playoffs. While most of the attention among the Reds pitching staff focuses on the starting rotation, and rightfully so, the Cincinnati bullpen must show up in crunch time. Iglesias will be counted on to get those final three outs if the Reds have the lead late.

Don’t be scared Reds fans. While I know there’s oftentimes a pit in the stomach of the Cincinnati faithful when David Bell calls upon Iglesias, the results have been there this season. Iggy has eight saves, has allowed just one home run and owns a 176 ERA+, the second-highest of his career. Iglesias has 31 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.

Iglesias has kept his barrel-percentage down this season. While in 2018 and 2019, that percentage hovered above 7%, this season, according to FanGraphs, Iglesias’ barrel-percentage is sitting at 5.6%. Teams are not making hard contact off Iglesias either. His hard-hit percentage is at 27.8%, the lowest it’s been since 2017.

There’s more. Iglesias’ strikeout-rate of 34.1% is the best of his career. Granted, it’s a small sample-size, but it’s very good nonetheless. Even more important against the Braves is Iglesias’ walk-rate (5.5%), which is also a career-best.

Make no mistake, the success and failure of the Reds march through the MLB Playoffs may rest on the right arm of Raisel Iglesias. While some fans may cringe at that thought, the numbers reveal a different feeling; optimism.