Ian Gibaut's meltdown overshadowed brutal, rally-killing mistake from Reds newcomer

Since manager Terry Francona joined the team, the Cincinnati Reds have dedicated themselves to the fundamentals. Good, solid baseball was said to be the name of the game in 2025, but on Opening Day, the Reds seemed to be prone to the same old mistakes they always were.

Specifically, Gavin Lux’s ill-advised attempt to go from first to third on Jeimer Candelario’s two-run single in the third inning drew criticism and questions. Lux made the second out of the inning, and the throw beat him by at least 15 feet. A moment of jubilation turned embarrassing.

Gavin Lux’s base running blunder contradicts Terry Francona's focus on fundamentals for this year's Reds team

Much of the attention and blame for the loss has fallen on Ian Gibaut, but while Lux’s folly had less tangible impact on the game, it may have an outsized impact on the club. Francona had been preaching fundamentals throughout spring training. Lux is a new addition who hasn’t been part of the undisciplined Reds of past seasons. Still, Cincinnati is running its way into outs.

Lux has always been risky on the basepaths. According to Statcast, he attempts to advance in 46% of the opportunities that present themselves, which is 10% more than the estimated rate. His speed has declined in recent years, especially after he tore his ACL in 2023, but this risk-taking still contributed positively to his team. He produced three extra-bases gained runs on his advances in 2024.

The hope that Francona would come in and magically transform the Reds into a team that displays patience and cunning is a bit far-fetched. Elly De La Cruz will still be a guy who loves to disrupt the game with his speed. He attempts to advance to an extra base at a rate 20% than the estimated average. He, like Lux, will almost certainly make a few poor decisions.

This moment, though, provides Francona with an opportunity to make his approach clear. A lot of things went wrong in the Reds’ Opening Day loss. Tito can begin to teach the squad how he plans on handling blunders and tough days. With the right spin, Lux’s mistake could be the foundation for growth.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors