2 Reds players whose hot streaks will continue, 1 who will fade

The Cincinnati Reds have been, well, red-hot out of the gate. Cincinnati won their first series at home, and some fans would even argue that it should've been a sweep. Then the Reds went into Philadelphia and stole Game 1 from the Phillies with a late-inning rally.

While there've been some bumps in the road, the Reds pitching has been good enough. But it's the hitting that has exploded since Opening Day in Cincinnati. Though the runs were hard to come by in the dreadful conditions during Tuesday's game in Philly, the Reds put up 26 runs through their first four games.

Several Reds are riding some hot streaks at the outset of the 2024 season. But as baseball fans know all too well, hitting isn't easy, and that hot-streak your favorite players is riding right now could turn into a 0-for-20 spell very quickly. Which two Reds players will continue their hot hitting, and whose streak is nearing an end?

Reds OF Spencer Steer will continue to mash all season long

Spencer Steer is showing just how dialed in he really is. The second-year outfielder whom the Reds acquired in a 2022 trade with the Minnesota Twins, has been crushing the ball to start the year. Steer's first grand slam couldn't have come at a better time and helped lead the Reds to a 6-3 victory over the Phillies on Monday night.

Steer was arguably the Reds most consistent hitter in 2023, and he's started off the 2024 season with a bang. While Steer doesn't have the prototypical power profile of a player like Christian Encarnacion-Strand or Will Benson, his swing is about as perfect as there is in the game of baseball.

Don't expect Steer's hot streak to fade anytime soon. Through the first four games of the season, the newly-anointed outfielder is hitting .400/.471/.733 and is leading the Reds in hits (8). Steer will be a force in the Reds lineup all season.

Don't expect Reds OF Nick Martini's hot start to spill over into April

Everybody in Great American Ball Park was shocked and surprised to see Nick Martini hit the first home run of 2024. Maybe Steer or Encarnacion-Strand or even Elly De La Cruz would have been the odds-on favorite to send one out of the ballpark, but instead it was Martini who enjoyed crushing the first round-tripper of the season.

Not only that, but Martini followed up his first at-bat with another blast. To see a journeyman outfielder like Martini enjoy his first-ever Opening Day with a two-homer performance was truly remarkable. But, all good things must come to an end.

Martini is a great role player, but it's questionable as to whether or not Martini would've even been part of the Reds Opening Day roster if both TJ Friedl and Matt McLain were healthy. Martini escaped by the skin of teeth after a fierce competition this spring with non-roster invitee Mike Ford.

Martini should enjoy the ride he's on right now; he's earned it. The 33-year-old is a positive influence in the clubhouse for the young players, and with minor league options remaining, the Reds will not have to designate Martini for assignment if his production drops off later this season.

Martini's rise is eerily similar to other Reds players who've enjoyed some early-season success. Derek Deitrich, Jason Vosler, and Brandon Drury enjoyed a fast start to their Reds careers. But only Drury was able to sustain that high-level of success beyond the first few weeks of the season.

Reds OF Will Benson is locked in right now

While both Jonathan India and Jake Fraley have hit the ground running this season, Will Benson has stepped up in a big way. Manager David Bell has even granted Benson's request to become a more complete player by giving the left-handed hitter opportunities to face left-handed pitching. Benson is 1-for-4 against southpaws so far this season.

The absence of TJ Friedl has forced Benson to be the Reds every centerfielder; a position he's taken to like a duck to water. Benson made a phenomenal catch in center field against the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon, and has been a steady presence with Friedl on the IL.

And while Benson's glove has shined early, it's been his bat that's earned the slugger plenty of recognition and increased playing time. Benson hasn't just been hitting the ball all over the field, but he's been hitting the ball hard. According to Baseball Savant, Benson is in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate.

Benson excelled during Cactus League play and that has carried over to the regular season. Though the 26-year-old has been occupying the bottom of the batting order against lefties, Benson is batting second when facing right-handed pitching. Benson has been on fire during the early-going and that doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

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