Reds: 3 players on pace to make their first All-Star Game

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 26: Jesse Winker #33 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with Alex Blandino. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

The Cincinnati Reds have their share of ups and downs through the first six weeks of the 2021 season. While Luis Castillo looks a pitcher who should be shipped to Triple-A, several other Reds players have exceeded expectations thus far, and a select few could find their way to their first All-Star Game in July.

The Reds are not without their fair share of All-Star Game veterans. Joey Votto has been to the Midsummer Classic six times. Sonny Gray is a two-time participant in the event. The aforementioned Castillo made it in 2019, as did Eugenio Suarez. Mike Moustakas has three All-Star appearances on his resumé, and even Wade Miley went to the All-Star Game back in 2012.

But, the 2021 season has seen some talented players finally get their just-due, as their emergence has caught the eye of pundits and fans alike. Which three Reds players are most likely to earn their first trip to the All-Star Game?

1. Jesse Winker, Reds outfielder

If you don’t know about Jesse Winker by now, you haven’t been paying attention. The 27-year-old, who occupied the DH spot for the majority of the 60-game season in 2020, has taken his rightful place among some of the elite hitters in Major League Baseball.

Winker is currently leading the National League in batting average (.350), third in OPS (1.016) and slugging percentage (.613), and fourth in on-base percentage (.403). These numbers put him among some of the best hitters in the league. Names like Ronald Acūna Jr., Kris Bryant, and Nolan Arenado.

If the Reds, as a team, are able to capitalize on the success of Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, both could enter the MVP conversation. Winker’s defense is often criticized, but the former first-round pick has worked tirelessly to improve that part of his game, and while he’s not turned into an elite defender, he’s certainly not a liability in left field either.

Jesse Winker’s walk-rate (7.5%) is down tremendously from last season (15.3%) according to FanGraphs, but his strikeout-rate (20.8%) is down as well. Winker is seeing career-highs in almost every single offensive category, and it’s hard to find an outfielder more deserving of a trip to Denver in July.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 26: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts on second base after hitting a double. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

2. Nick Castellanos, Reds outfielder

Few players in Major League Baseball have had a better start to the season than the aforementioned Jesse Winker, but his teammate Nick Castellanos has had an amazing start to the 2021 season as well. Castellanos’ 1.048 OPS leads the National League, as does his .648 slugging percentage.

Much of the early-season focus on Castellanos was focused on the minor dust up with the St. Louis Cardinals which netted the Reds’ slugger a two-game suspension. But, with the two-game ban now behind him, Castellanos has flat-out raked. In addition to leading the league in slugging and OPS, Castellanos trails only Winker in batting average (.338).

Nick Castellanos got off to an incredible start in 2020 as well, but fell off after the first month. Castellanos hit .393/.469/.929 with four home runs and 11 RBIs thorough the Reds first eight games. However, the Cincinnati right fielder hit just .200/.271/.421 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs over the final 52 games of the abbreviated season.

The Cincinnati Reds would not be off to the relatively hot start we’ve seen this season had it not been for the aggressive hitting of both Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos. The 29-year-old is easily in the conversation for NL MVP, and may well be on his way to his very fist All-Star Game on July 13th.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 13: Tucker Barnhart #16 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Tucker Barnhart, Reds catcher

Tucker Barnhart earned his second Gold Glove last season, cementing the Cincinnati Reds backstop as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. But, this season, Barnhart has shown that he’s pretty good with the stick as well.

This season, Barnhart is hitting .286/.348/.457. Barnhart’s nine doubles are second-most among all National League catchers, training only Pittsburgh Pirates’ backstop Jacob Stallings. Barnhart’s hitting has always been his Achilles heel, save for the 2017 season when he slashed .270/.347/.403.

This season, Tucker Barnhart’s OPS+ is sitting at 112, a 26 point improvement over his career OPS+ of 86. In his 33 games played, Barnhart has 14 RBIs, which is already one better than his 13 RBIs from last year’s abbreviated campaign in which he only played 38 games.

Barnhart ranks No. 3 in the NL in pitch framing according to FanGraphs. The Reds catcher has never made it to the Midsummer Classic, but this may be Barnhart’s best chance. Catchers are typically given a bit of leniency in terms of their offensive production, but with Barnhart putting up career-highs, perhaps this is season he gets his just due.

Next. Santillan should replace Hoffman in the rotation

All of these Cincinnati Reds players have competition to make their first trip to the All-Star Game, but none more so than Tucker Barnhart. J.T. Realmuto is regarded as one of the best hitting catchers in the league, and Buster Posey has looked sensational this season. The aforementioned Stallings and James McCann are also playing well this season.

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