Ke'Bryan Hayes is beginning to mirror a once-beloved Reds' deadline pickup

The Cincinnati Reds have received more than they bargained for with the arrival of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, and for all the right reasons. Cincinnati acquired Hayes before the trade deadline, mostly for his Gold Glove defense, but since his arrival, Hayes has provided offense and leadership to a degree that few forecasted.

Hayes, a career .255/.309/.372 hitter, has risen above that standard in a Reds uniform, with a .280/.345/.450 slash line to go along with three home runs and 11 RBI. He’s given Cincinnati an offensive jolt that was wholly unexpected, making the deal for him look splendid in hindsight thus far.

Ke’Bryan Hayes is quickly emerging as a veteran voice in the Reds’ clubhouse

Beyond his elite glove and surprising bat, Hayes has injected Cincinnati’s young clubhouse with a strong dose of veteran leadership that it needed. By holding his teammates accountable and demonstrating what it means to be an all-around team guy — both with his play and in his correspondence with the media — Hayes’ impact on the Reds’ rising stars will be felt beyond 2025.

A former No. 32 overall pick who spent the better part of six seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hayes has been around the MLB block and knows what it takes to be a true professional on a daily basis, even when team success isn’t on the menu. Those are the kinds of players clubhouses get stronger by adding, and Hayes has changed the entire dynamic of this Reds team in a way that goes beyond quantifiable baseball performance.

Ke’Bryan Hayes’ arrival mirrors Scott Rolen’s impactful Reds tenure

Hayes’ contributions look a lot like what Scott Rolen gave to the Reds when he arrived via trade to Cincinnati as a weathered veteran in 2009. As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon described, Rolen’s presence was about more than his glove and bat — more so, Rolen influenced Cincinnati’s clubhouse in a way that altered the Reds’ culture and led to more winning in the years to follow.

In revisiting the trade for Rolen, Sheldon recalled that the Reds, at the time, were in need of a veteran voice, and Rolen played that role perfectly.

“What the club of younger players lacked was a players’ player, a respected veteran leader who could set a good example,” Sheldon wrote. “The general manager at the time, Walt Jocketty, felt there was a solution, and it was third baseman Scott Rolen. … Jocketty made the deal to acquire the 34-year-old Rolen from the Blue Jays after the All-Star waived his no-trade rights.”

Zoom back ahead to 2025, and Hayes might be having a similar impact on the latest iteration of the Reds. While Cincinnati might not sneak into the wild card this season, they’ve established some real momentum in 2025 that could pay off as early as next season.

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