Reds: 2 players who justified team’s faith and 1 who hasn’t

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – JUNE 01: Jonathan India #6 of the Cincinnati Reds runs to third base. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Being a small market franchise, the Cincinnati Reds oftentimes give players the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes that works, and other times it backfires. Who are the two players who’ve rewarded the Reds’ patience, and who’s the one player that just doesn’t seem to have figured things out?

A player that comes to mind prior to 2021 is Jesse Winker. Winker was a rotational outfielder during his rookie season in 2018, barely grabbing starts over the likes of Billy Hamilton, Adam Duvall, and Scott Schebler.

The Reds finally gave Winker a chance to be an everyday player in 2019, but his ascension was slowed by injuries and his inability to get hits versus left-handed pitchers. Last season, however, Winker was healthy and proved he can get base hits against southpaws.

Now, in 2021, Jesse Winker is on the verge of stardom and likely headed to his first All-Star Game. So, the Cincinnati Reds were patient, we’ve watched Winker develop before our very eyes, and Reds Country eagerly expects to see the front office pursue a long-term contract with their budding star. Who might be this year’s Jesse Winker?

Second baseman Jonathan India has rewarded the Reds patience.

I wasn’t alone in thinking that Jonathan India might not have been the best draft pick back in 2018, but the former Florida Gators is proving me and all the doubters wrong. India, in his first season in the major leagues, is making a push for Rookie of the Year honors. India currently owns a 108 OPS, and recently has been inserted as the Reds’ leadoff hitter.

India was impressive out of the gates, but ran into a slump after the first couple of weeks on the job. The 24-year-old then saw a lot of the bench for a stretch when Reds manager David Bell decided to turn to another first-round pick in Nick Senzel.

Senzel, as we’ve seen all too often, wound up on the injured list, and with both Mike Moustakas and Joey Votto out of lineup, it became apparent that Bell would have to once again rely on Jonathan India. The former No. 5 overall pick has rewarded his skipper’s faith by slashing .476/.577/.857 over the last seven games.

India is second on the team in stolen bases, third in on-base percentage, and fifth in RBIs. At the same time his bat is heating up, India has also been playing very good defense as well. The Reds put a lot of faith in Jonathan India when they shifted Eugenio Suarez from third base to shortstop in order to insert India into the starting lineup. So far, their faith has been rewarded.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – MAY 20: Tyler Mahle #30 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Tyler Mahle has rewarded the Reds’ faith as the team’s best starter.

Tyler Mahle has improved beyond measure over the past two seasons. The former fifth-round pick has finally turned the corner, and the Cincinnati Reds are being rewarded handsomely for sticking with Mahle through the tough stuff.

Last season, Mahle was not supposed to be a starting pitcher in the big leagues. Prior to the season, after the Reds had signed left-handed starter Wade Miley, it was assumed that Mahle would be optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season while Miley, Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Anthony DeSclafani pitched every fifth day in the majors.

As it turned out, the coronavirus pandemic, and some early-season injuries to both Miley and DeSclafani found Cincinnati in need of an additional starting pitcher. Mahle exceeded expectations, going 2-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 10 games, nine of which were starts. This season, however, Mahle has established himself as, perhaps, the Reds best starting pitcher.

Tyler Mahle is 5-2 in 12 starts this season and is currently carrying a 3.32 ERA. If you throw out two of Mahle’s worst starts (May 2nd versus the Cubs and May 20th versus the Giants), Mahle hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in his other 10 starts.

Where Mahle has struggled this season is efficiency. The right-hander has struggled to get past the fifth inning on five occasions this season. If Mahle can continue to build on the progress he’s made thus far in 2021, he could looking at a contract extension this winter.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 10: Amir Garrett #50 of the Cincinnati Reds in action. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Amir Garrett has been the most disappointing player on the Reds this season.

Now, I know a lot of fans, when asked who’s been the most disappointing player on the Reds this season would say, “Take your pick.” While there’s some truth to that, I think the one player who’s betrayed the trust of the coaches and the front office more than anyone has been reliever Amir Garrett.

Garrett, who’s never shy about telling you what he thinks, had said all offseason that he was going to be Cincinnati’s closer. We’re nearly one-third of the way through the season, and Garrett has two of the team’s 14 saves. Garrett himself is 2-for-4 in save opportunities, and I highly doubt David Bell will be counting on AG anytime soon.

Garrett is sporting a 9.56 ERA. Garrett has allowed 17 runs on 17 hits with 17 strikeouts over 16 innings of work. AG has also walked 12 batters. Garrett’s 49 ERA+ is well below what the left-hander posted last season (202 ERA+). Garrett’s H/9 (9.6), HR/9 (3.9), BB/9 (6.8), and WHIP (1.913) are all career-worsts.

Amir Garrett’s lack of production makes an already-shaky bullpen even worse. He and Lucas Sims were thought to be in competition for the closer’s spot. While Sims hasn’t played up to his potential, the 27-year-old has six saves on the season and has 35 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.

One could easily argue that Eugenio Suárez, Nick Senzel, and maybe even Shogo Akiyama could fall into this category as well. However, Suárez changed defensive positions midway through spring training and has regained some semblance of his swing.

Next. Reds Top 10 all-time leaders in WAR

Senzel has been incredibly versatile this season and has played well when he’s healthy. The 25-year-old is currently on the IL following knee surgery. And while Akiyama’s fallen short of expectations, his playing time has taken a hit due to the elite-level of play from Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker and his absence from spring training due to family concerns and injury.

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