Ke’Bryan Hayes’ glove is forcing Reds fans into an awkward realization

When the Cincinnati Reds acquired Ke'Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the July 31 trade deadline, the fanbase was somewhat skeptical — and rightfully so. After all, the Reds needed to bolster their lineup, and adding a player with a .596 OPS wasn't going to help in that regard one bit.

Since his arrival in Cincinnati, however, Hayes has posted a respectable .694 OPS and his defense has been otherworldly. Though many within the Reds fanbase were critical of the Hayes' acquisition at the time, it's possible that president of baseball operations Nick Krall may have given this team exactly what they needed.

If you weren't able to stay awake for Monday night's game in Anaheim, you missed some of the best defense you're ever going to see from a third baseman. While Hayes made two outstanding plays during the first two innings, it was the 1-5-3 putout in the third inning that will be seen on all the highlight reels.

Ke’Bryan Hayes’ glove is forcing Reds fans into an awkward realization

A ground ball off the bat of Los Angeles Angels' outfielder Bryce Teodosio ricocheted off the foot of Reds' starting pitcher Brady Singer and bounced toward third base. Hayes, charging, grabbed the ball with his barehand and threw on to first to get the out.

According to Baseball Savant, Teodosio is among the fastest men in baseball with a sprint speed of 29.3 feet per second — that's faster than any player on the Reds active roster. Aside from TJ Friedl's game-saving catch against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 3, Hayes' gem on Monday night was the best defensive play of the Reds' season.

Many Reds fans were hoping to see the Reds add a third baseman at the MLB trade deadline — but most were desiring a reunion with Eugenio Suárez. Instead, Krall and Co. opted for the best defensive third baseman in the game, and so far, that decision seems to be paying major dividends.

Not only has Hayes' addition to the roster improved the overall team defense, but it also allowed the Reds to push Noelvi Marte from the infield dirt to the outfield grass. While Marte is still learning the new position, if he taps into the wealth of potential that made him a top prospect in 2023, Cincinnati may have finally found their power-hitting outfielder

Admitting you were wrong is oftentimes one of the hardest things to do. But for Reds fans, it may be time to admit that they were wrong about the Hayes' addition. While he may never be more than an average offensive player, Hayes' glove is elite.

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