Matt McLain's red-hot start helps Reds' fans put this question in the rearview mirror

It didn’t take long for Cincinnati Reds infielder Matt McLain to make a statement. After missing the entire 2024 season due to shoulder surgery, some wondered whether McLain would return as the same power-speed threat that took Reds fans by storm in 2023.

Through the first four games of the 2025 season, McLain has delivered an emphatic answer: he’s back, and picking up right where he left off. Just four games in, McLain has already showcased his offensive firepower, with three home runs and an impressive 1.327 OPS.

Yet, McLain’s return isn’t just about his offensive production. The 25-year-old has had to navigate significant changes since he last played in a regular-season game. With the departure of former Reds second baseman and 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India, McLain was tasked with taking over a position he hadn’t played regularly since high school. But if there were any doubts about his ability to adapt, he erased them with a defensive showcase that left teammates and fans in awe.

Matt McLain's red-hot start helps Reds' fans put this question in the rearview mirror

In the second game of their opening series against the San Francisco Giants, McLain flashed the leather in a way that few second basemen can. Three separate innings saw him spark crucial double plays, driving a knife through San Francisco’s momentum each time.

In the sixth and seventh innings, McLain and his middle infield partner Elly De La Cruz turned two textbook double plays to erase leadoff singles. Then, in the eighth, McLain made an even more jaw-dropping play — fielding a ball deep on the shortstop side of second base and turning the double play himself. C. Trent Rosecrans of the The Athletic (subscription required) caught up with Emilio Pagán on McLain's play. “There’s only a handful of second basemen in baseball who make that play,” the Reds reliever said.

It was a moment that spoke volumes, not just about McLain’s range and defensive ability but also about the chemistry he shares with De La Cruz. The two infielders have spent time developing their communication and instincts in the minor leagues together, which are now on full display in Cincinnati’s early-season defensive dominance.

For Reds fans, seeing McLain return with such force — both at the plate and in the field — provides a reason for optimism. His bat remains potent, his glove is proving elite, and despite missing an entire season, he looks every bit like the breakout star who took the city by storm just a couple seasons ago.

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