Who are the last 5 Reds players with 100 RBI in a single season?

Runs batted in are not as popular as they used to. Fans are more enamored with exit velocity, launch angle, wins above replacement, and other interesting new metrics used to determine a player's value and performance.

Now, I'm not against the use of analytics, but sometimes it's nice to just go back to basics. After all, the whole object of the game is outscore the opponent right? Well, you can't do that unless you have some players in the lineup to drive in those runs.

So, while RBI may be rather antiquated, it's also useful. Who are the last five Cincinnati Reds players to record 100 RBI in a single season? Note: Some players listed may have multiple 100 RBI-seasons but are only listed once.

1. Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos recorded 100 RBI in 2021.

Many fans forget that it merely two seasons ago when Nick Castellanos was suiting up for the Cincinnati Reds. It was a fortunate set of circumstances that led to Castellanos signing with the Reds prior to the 2020 season.

After a subpar campaign during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Castellanos decided to waive his right to opt out of the contract he signed in 2020 and rejoined his Reds teammates for the 2021 season.

That decision paid off rather handsomely for the slugger as Castellanos led the Cincinnati Reds is RBI that season. Castellanos posted 100 RBI while hitting .309/.362/,576 with 34 home runs. Castellanos was named a starter for the National League in the All-Star Game and took home his first Silver Slugger Award.

Nick Castellanos used that 2021 performance to secure a tremendous contract during the following offseason with the Philadelphia Phillies. Castellanos inked a five-year/$100-million contract and after an underwhelming performance in 2022, the 31-year-old returned to All-Star status in 2023.

2. Reds infielder Eugenio Suarez recorded over 100 RBI in 2018 and 2019.

Some Reds fans miss Sonny Gray, while others wish Luis Castillo was still pitching for Cincinnati. But for me, the player I miss most is Eugenio Suarez. The Reds included Geno in the 2022 trade that sent Jesse Winker to the Seattle Mariners.

Let's call it what it was - a salary dump. The Mariners will tell you until they're blue in the face that they were excited to have Suarez as part of their organization, but at the time of the trade, Geno was coming off back-to-back seasons in which he wasn't himself.

The Reds third baseman incurred a shoulder injury in 2020 that slowed his progress that season and. carried over into 2021. The Reds parted ways with Suarez, and once he arrived in Seattle, Geno looked like himself again. Last year, Suarez hit 31 home runs while wearing that trademark smile.

Eugenio Suarez's return to form in 2022 was eerily similar to his past performances with the Cincinnati Reds. Geno recorded back-to-back seasons of 100-plus RBI. Suarez eclipsed 100 RBI in both 2018 and 2019 while hitting .277/.362/.550 collectively.

Suarez's smile is missed around the Reds clubhouse, but most fans have fond memories of Geno swinging for the fences during his time in Cincinnati. Suarez is trying to help his team to back-to-back playoff appearances as the Mariners have their eye on a Wild Card berth.

3. Reds infielder Joey Votto recorded 100 RBI in 2017.

In what should have been his second NL MVP season, Joey Votto recorded 100 RBI. The six-time All-Star was robbed of the MVP trophy by the baseball writers, but Votto still put on show throughout the entire 2017 season.

Votto's 2017 campaign saw the slugger play all 162 games while leading the league in walks, on-base percentage, and OPS. Votto slashed .320/.454/.578 with 36 round trippers but fell just short of winning the MVP for a second time as the honor went to Giancarolo Stanton.

Votto's 100 RBI in 2017 was the third time in his career that the Reds first baseman recorded 100 or more runs batted in. The former MVP accomplished that same feat in 2010 (113) and 2011 (103).

Votto nearly racked up 100 RBI in 2021 as both he and the aformentioned Nick Castellanos were jockeying back and forth for the team-lead all season. In the end, Castellanos posted one more than RBI than Votto, but fell short in the home runs column. Votto had 36 bombs that season while Castellanos managed 34.

Joey Votto is third all-time in team history when it comes to RBI, and if the soon-to-be 40-year-old returns for one more season, perhaps he can catch the great the Tony Perez. It's doubtful, however, that Votto would overtake Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (1,376 RBI).

5. Reds duo of Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce recorded 100 RBI in 2013.

Rather than just give the honors to one of the two players who eclipsed 100 RBI in 2013, let's give some accolades to both Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. In what would be the last season in which the Cincinnati Reds were competitive until 2020, both Phillips and Bruce recorded triple-digit RBI.

After a successful season in 2012 that included a disappointing finish, expectations were high for the Reds headed into 2013. Unfortunately, the Reds were bounced from the postseason in the Wild Card Game and haven't returned to the postseason during a 162-game season since.

But the lack of team success can in no way be attributed to Phillips or Bruce. Phillips went to the All-Star Game that season, though with a final slash line of .262/.329/.478, Bruce could have easily been given the nod as well. That season, Bruce hit 30 home runs and recorded 109 RBI.

As for Phillips, the uber-talented second baseman took home his fourth-career Gold Glove Award while making his third All-Star appearance. Phillips was only five RBI behind Bruce for the team-lead and finished the 2013 season with 103 runs batted in.

It would seem as though no one on the current Cincinnati Reds roster will eclipse 100 RBI this season. However, heading into next season with the likes of Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, the Reds may have multiple players with 100-plus RBI in 2024.