Jeimer Candelario just hit same crossroads that sparked Joey Votto’s 2020 comeback

Having missed four of the past five games, Cincinnati Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario has effectively been benched. Candelario is hitting just .113/.198/.213 and has just two home runs and 10 RBI on the season. Noelvi Marte has been red-hot, and Reds manager Terry Francona is trying to give Spencer Steer more time in the field after he was relegated to DH duty for the first four weeks of the 2025 season.

Francona spoke about Candelario's situation before Monday's game. "I wanted him to understand. He’s a veteran player that’s had some really good years. And right now, it’s hard because there’s guys ahead of him," Francona said. “We tried to explain to him, too, that you can’t chase hits. That’s a hard way to play."

This isn't the first time Candelario has struggled since joining the Reds. In his first 95 plate appearances last season, Candelrio hit just .159/.263/.317. But something clicked near the end of April and Candelario hit .279/.313/.542 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI from April 29-June 30 last season. That's proof that Candelario has it within him to be a quality hitter. Perhaps this benching will be the moment when Candelario flips the switch on his 2025 campaign.

Jeimer Candelario just hit same crossroads that sparked Joey Votto’s 2020 comeback

It worked for Joey Votto five years ago. Reds fans may remember during the pandemic shortened 2020 season when then-manager David Bell benched Votto for three straight games. Bell called it a "break", but the former MVP knew what was going on. Furthermore, he took it personally and let his bat do the talking once he returned to the diamond.

After going 0-for-4 in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 25, 2020, Votto was benched. The six-time All-Star was removed from the Reds starting lineup and was forced to be spectator for the first time in his career. After missing three straight games, Votto knew he had to be better.

“I can't become a completely different player, I have to be true to myself, but I clearly have to make adjustments,” Votto said via MLB.com. “I don't feel beat by this. I feel frustrated, of course. I'm bummed that we're about 100 plate appearances, 30 games through. It's frustrating getting judged by that.”

At the time of his benching, Votto was hitting just .191/.321/.326 with three home runs and eight RBI. The Reds were 11-17 and in fourth-place in the NL Central with only 32 games to play in the abbreviated 60-game season. Votto returned to the Reds lineup on August 29, 2020 and over the next 29 games, hit .258/.385/.557 with eight home runs and 14 RBI. The Reds were 17-12 during those games, finished with a 31-29 record, and qualified for the expanded postseason.

The Reds need Candelario to have a Votto-like resurgence upon his return to the lineup. The Reds infielder reported back soreness prior to the postponement of Tuesday's game, so it's quite possible that he's headed to the IL on Wednesday rather than the bench. Candelario doesn't have near the status of Votto, so his runway is undoubtedly much shorter than the future Hall of Famer. Reds fans are hopeful that Candelario's benching yields similar results to Votto's.

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