Jonathan India shows perseverance with recent on-base streak

The Major League Baseball season is a marathon, not a sprit. Opening Day sets the course for almost seven month's worth of a grind that can take its toll on even the best major leaguers.

Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India has drawn the ire of the fanbase lately with his sub-par play, especially in the batters' box. India has been moved from the Reds' leadoff hitter, to batting third, and now sits in the No. 5 hole in the lineup.

But a recent surge from India will hopefully remind fans that the former NL Rookie of the Year is crucial to the Reds success heading into the final two months of the 2023 season.

Jonathan India surges out of the All-Star Break, hits in five straight

The All-Star Break has a tendency to send players into slumps or to pick them up out of the gutter. The time away certainly seemed to help Jonathan India.

India, has already recorded three multi-hit games since the All-Star break, and all three have come during the infielder's six-game on-base streak. India has reached base safely in every game he's played since the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday.

India's performance was highlighted by a three-hit performance against the San Francisco Giants in which he doubled and hit the game tying home run on July 17th. Might this on-base streak be the beginning of a resurgent second-half for the Reds second baseman?

Since being moved down in the batting order, India is hitting .290/.333/.452. During his six-game on-base streak, India has slashed .375/.423/.583 with a wRC+ of 167 according to FanGraphs.

There were ill-advised calls from some of the Cincinnati Reds fanbase for David Bell to bench the slumping Jonathan India. Some even went as far as to suggest that India should be part of a deal at the upcoming trade deadline. This erroneous idea needs to be put to bed, as India seems poised to maintain his mantle as the leader of this year's team.