Cincinnati Reds: 3 breakout hitters who will emerge in 2021

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 26: Shogo Akiyama #4 of the Cincinnati Reds bats. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

Which three Reds hitters are most likely to breakout in 2021?

The Cincinnati Reds hitting was, in a word, dreadful last season. The front office invested nearly $150M in the offense last winter, and Cincinnati’s bats never produced. Is there anyone on the roster who’s likely to breakout in big way during the 2021 season?

Last season, the Reds ranked 19th in OPS, 23rd in on-base percentage, 27th in runs scored, 29th in doubles, and 30th in hits, singles, and batting average. The fact that Cincinnati won enough games to make it into the expanded postseason last season is a testament to how good the team’s pitching was.

In order for the Cincinnati Reds to compete in the National League this season, some of the potential needs to be unlocked. We know what we can expect from a healthy Eugenio Suárez. While newcomers Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos struggled last season, it’s a fair assumption to think those two will return to form.

But which players, that have failed to make an impact in their major league careers, will make their presence felt during the 2021 season? While Reds Country is eager to see the front office add a shortstop that give the Redlegs a consistent bat in the middle of the lineup, perhaps some of that pop is already on the team.

Shogo Akiyama, Reds outfielder

To grade Shogo Akiyama‘s first year in the majors as anything other than incomplete would be woefully unfair. The spring shutdown due to coronavirus pandemic may have negatively impacted Akiyama more than any other player on the Reds roster, and it showed.

Akiyama’s 2020 season was a tale of two halves, with the first being and utter disaster and the second being a pleasant surprise. Akiyama saw action in 54 games. Over his first 27 games, the left-handed hitting outfielder posted a slash line of .183/.264/.232 with just three extra-base hits and five runs scored.

Akiyama, however, really got things going in the right direction during the second half of his rookie season. Over the final 27 games of 2020, Shogo Akiyama hit .315/.451/.370 with four doubles and 11 runs scored. That second number of Akiyama’s slash line is the important. If the Japanese outfielder can reach base at a 40% clip, then the Reds will be much improved in 2021.

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 20: Nick Senzel #15 of the Cincinnati Reds bats against the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Nick Senzel, Reds outfielder

I’ve been beating the drum for Nick Senzel since he was left off the Opening Day roster in 2019 for reasons I won’t get into here. However, while I still believe Senzel has the ability to be the future of this Cincinnati Reds franchise, he must prove to all the doubters that he can stay healthy. Period!

That’s a big ask for a player that has seen a considerable amount of time on the injured list during his first two seasons in the big leagues. Obviously, last year’s absence was completely out of his control and not the result of poor conditioning. In fact, the majority of Senzel’s injuries have been odd, awkward, or downright strange in nature.

It’s time for Nick Senzel to put all that nonsense behind him and control what he can control. While some fans will point to the Reds’ crowded outfield as a problem, I think it’s that depth that will help Senzel realize his potential. Having a four-man rotation of Senzel, Shogo Akiyama, Jesse Winker, and Nick Castellanos will allow David Bell to play his three best outfielders based on the matchup.

Setting the first two games of the 2020 season, Senzel was off to a hot start. The right-handed hitting centerfielder hit .289/.364/.579 with five doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs from July 29th through August 14th. Then the former first-rounder headed to the injured list and did not return until a month later.

Upon his return from the IL, Nick Senzel failed to perform and did not look to be in baseball shape. However, during the Reds two-game run in the 2020 postseason, Senzel looked to be back on track. Hopefully, Senzel can recapture that level of performance we saw early on last season, and above all else, stay healthy.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 27: Tyler Stephenson #37 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Tyler Stephenson, Reds catcher

It’s a bit unfair to call for Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson to have a breakout season when the 24-year-old has just 17 major league at-bats, but Cincinnati’s front office seems to have a great deal of confidence in the Georgia-native’s ability or else Curt Casali would still be on the roster. Stephenson sure made a believer out of the Cincinnati faithful last season.

It’s a small sample size to be sure, but Stephenson looks like the Reds best option in 2021 to be team’s biggest offensive upgrade. While the front office set out in the offseason to add a starting shortstop, all the best free agents have chosen to spurn the Reds and Cincinnati is left with Kyle Farmer as the presumed starter heading into Opening Day.

With the majority of the 2020 roster returning, the only offensive upgrade appears to be an internal one. Stephenson sat behind Casali and Tucker Barnhart last season, appearing in just eight games with four starts behind the plate. Last season was an audition and Stephenson passed with flying colors.

The question entering spring training is; how long until Tyler Stephenson usurps Tucker Barnhart as the starting catcher? I don’t think we’ll see an immediate change, and it may not come until next season. Barnhart is a phenomenal defensive catcher, as evidenced by his two Gold Gloves. However, this year’s team needs a boost at the plate, and Stephenson’s strength is with the bat in his hands.

Next. 3 dark horse SS candidates for the Reds

It’ll be interesting to see how David Bell allows the competition between Stephenson and Barnhart to play out. I fully expect Stephenson to get the lion’s share of starts when a left-handed pitcher is on the bump, with Barnhart seeing the majority of right-handed starters. Will Stephenson’s success from 2020 carry over to 2021? Reds Country sure hopes so.

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