Reds: 5 players who exceeded expectations in 2021

I think it’s safe to say, when the Cincinnati Reds‘ 2021 season began, you weren’t overly confident that David Bell’s squad was destined to be in the playoff hunt come September, were you? While it was not to be, the mere fact that Cincinnati was in the discussion with how little money the front office invested during the offseason is a testament to Bell and his players.

No, you’re not likely to find any members of the Cincinnati bullpen on this list, though I really like what I saw from Tony Santillan. However, there were a handful of players who exceeded any and all expectations you may have had for them this season.

You’re not going to find Nick Castellanos’ name among those listed here. And despite both he and Jesse Winker going to their first All-Star Game in 2021, the Reds left fielder isn’t on the list either. No, we’re looking at players who not only exceeded expectations this season, but crushed them.

1. Tyler Naquin, Reds outfielder

Now I’m sure, like me, you were very intrigued by the Cincinnati Reds’ shrewd offseason move, signing Tyler Naquin to a minor-league contract. And I’m sure, like me, you assumed he’d be a nice addition to the outfield and would provide the team with some depth.

However, Naquin responded with his best performance since his rookie season in 2016. The 30-year-old appeared in a career-high 127 games, and were it not for an accidental collision in the outfield with rookie Jose Barrero, Naquin likely would have finished with 20-plus home runs.

Instead, the former Cleveland Indians outfielder slashed .270/.333/.477 with 19 long balls, 70 RBIs, and 52 runs scored, all of which are career-highs. Naquin also saved Reds Country from the likely platoon of Shogo Akiyama and Aristides Aquino in center field.

After Nick Senzel left Opening Day with a shoulder injury, Tyler Naquin was given an opportunity to start. Naquin went on a tear during the first 12 games, going 11-for-48 (.262) with six home runs and 15 RBIs. Naquin finished second on the team in stolen bases, fourth in doubles, fifth in RBIs, and sixth in home runs. Naquin will likely be in the lineup on Opening Day next season.

2. Jonathan India, Reds second baseman

I don’t know if anyone in a Cincinnati Reds uniform had a more surprising season than Jonathan India. The likely NL Rookie of the Year put on a clinic in 2021 and looks to be, along with Tyler Stephenson, a key piece of the franchise moving forward.

India, in 2021, was everything Reds Country had hoped Nick Senzel would be when the former first-round pick debuted in 2019. However, while Senzel seemed to find time in the training room than the field, India played through multiple bumps and bruises on the season. His toughness may actually be one of his best qualities.

Of course, the rookie was sensational at the dish as well. The 24-year-old slashed .269/.376/.459 on the season with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs. More importantly, India added an element of speed to the lineup, swiping 12 bags on the season and was only thrown out three times.

There were several intangibles that Jonathan India brought to the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, but nothing was more important than his ability to set the table for the big hitters behind him in the lineup. India’s 98 runs scored led the team, was the most among all NL rookies, and ranked eighth in the league.

David Bell’s decision to insert India atop the lineup was a season-changing moment. India took over leadoff duties on June 5th in St. Louis and hit .274/.382/.480 while hitting No. 1 in the lineup. Juan Soto ran away with highest on-base percentage (.465) in the NL this season, putting up numbers that looked a lot like Joey Votto. But India’s .376 OBP was fifth best in the league this season.

3. Joey Votto, Reds first baseman

Okay, while Joey Votto had a fantastic season in 2021, I really struggled to add him to this list. I mean, c’mon, it’s Joey Freakin’ Votto. He’s a former MVP, six-time All-Star, and is earning $25M per season. How could he exceed anyone’s expectations?

Well, while I’m sure Votto would tell you that, at most, he met his own expectations, he more than shattered any expectations the majority of Reds fans had for the 38-year-old. Votto hit .266/.375/.563 with 36 home runs and 99 RBIs. And this was done with a month-long stay on the IL with a broken thumb.

Votto took a different approach to the game over the offseason and it showed. The 2010 MVP wanted to be considered among the best in the game and turned his attention to sabermetrics, specifically barrels.

So what are barrels? Essentially this is a batted with comparable hit types, taking into consideration launch angle, exit velocity, etc., that have led to .500 batting average or 1.500 slugging percentage. To put it simply, these are hard hit balls that typically have really good results. In 2019, Votto’s last full season, he had 26 (6.4%). In 2021, Votto had 56 barrels (17.2%).

Joey Votto’s performance, post-All-Star break, was downright amazing. Votto posted the fifth highest OPS (1.057) among all NL hitters after the Midsummer Classic and his 25 homers were the most of any player in baseball with the exception of Kansas City Royals’ catcher Salvador Perez. I think it’s safe to say, Votto still bangs!

5. Kyle Farmer, Reds shortstop

Where would the Cincinnati Reds have been without Kyle Farmer? The Georgia native went from non-tendered in the offseason, to starting shortstop in spring training, bench role, to fringe roster selection prior to the season, to an irreplaceable part of the 2021 Reds team.

The Reds were criticized all winter for not actively pursuing an established shortstop. After all, Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons, and Didi Gregorius were all free agents, and Cincinnati had already allowed Freddy Galvis to walk. The Redlegs instead opted to roll with Farmer and, ahem, Dee Strange-Gordon as the team’s top options at shortstop.

David Bell pulled an about-face during spring training and instead went with an infield of Mike Moustakas (third base), Eugenio Suárez (shortstop), Jonathan India (second base), and Joey Votto (first base). This relegated Farmer, once again, to a utility infielder.

However, injuries and subpar performances quickly took hold of the Reds. Suárez looked like a shell of himself, Votto landed on the IL with a broken thumb, and Moustakas would eventually miss the majority of the season with a foot injury. This necessitated that Farmer would be the Reds’ starting shortstop. The 31-year-old did not disappoint.

Farmer, despite suffering through an abdominal injury of his own, played in a career-high 147 games and hit .263/.316/.416. The former Georgia Bulldog had a career-high 16 home runs and 63 RBIs while posting 5 outs above average which ranked Farmer among the Top 11% in the league.

While India, Votto, Tyler Naquin, and Wade Miley all exceeded expectations this season, no one on this Cincinnati Reds squad went above and beyond what was expected more than Kyle Farmer. I’ll stop short of calling Farmer the team’s MVP, but given everything he overcame in 2021, Farmer was the most irreplaceable player on last year’s team.