Ranking which Reds player will replace Joey Votto as the face of the franchise?

Joey Votto's time as a member of the Cincinnati Reds seems to be over. The Reds declined Votto's club-option for 2024 making the future Hall of Famer a free agent for the first time in illustrious career.

That begs the question, which Reds player will be anointed as the new face of the franchise? Though Joey Votto has been maligned these past few years due to injury and inconsistent play, he was still the most recognizable Reds player. So who will take up that mantle?

Note: Face of the franchise doesn't necessarily mean the best player on the team, though sometimes that can be the case. But the ability to draw attention to the team via one's play, leadership, and marketability are key factors in being the face of the franchise.

4. Reds RHP Graham Ashcraft could be the next face of the franchise

This is, admittedly, an outside-the-box choice. Graham Ashcraft isn't the ace of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff. To be quite frank about it, the Reds don't really have an ace at the moment. But is there any player that embodies what the Reds fanbase is about more than Ashcraft.

Ashcraft is gamer. He's a bulldog. The right-hander is going to give you everything he's got each and every time he steps onto the mound. While the Reds were clinging to their slim playoff chances entering the month of September, any shot at the postseason went up in smoke when Ashcraft hit the IL.

Ashcraft has a wicked, unpredictable repertoire of pitches. It's unfair to call Ashcraft a strikeout artist, because the Alabama native prefers to pitch to contact. Ashcraft is looking to get ground balls and allow his defense to make plays.

There might not be a member of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff that shows more emotion on the mound than Graham Ashcraft. It's not often that a pitcher, who only sees the field once every five days, is considered the face of the franchise. But perhaps Ashcraft can change that narrrative.

3. Reds 2B Jonathan India could be the next face of the franchise

Were it not for all the trade rumors, Jonathan India would be No. 1 on this list. As Reds fans saw in 2023, India emerged a leader in the absence of Joey Votto on Opening Day. Along with TJ Friedl and Tyler Stephenson, India asserted himself as the voice of the underdog Reds.

India plays the game the right way. The former first-round is going to hustle down the first base line each and every time he puts the ball in play, he'll go first to third on a ball up the middle, and he's going to give you everything he's got each and every time he steps onto the diamond.

The problem with India ascending this list is two-fold. First, there's probably a 50/50 chance that India won't be on the roster on Opening Day. And second, India's desire to play through injuries has seen him find his way to the trainer's room too often during his first three seasons.

From a marketability standpoint, Jonathan India is surefire bet. The even-keeled nature combined with his long-flowing hair and positive fan interactions make him one of the most marketable players on the Reds.

But India was outplayed by several of his teammates in 2023, and that may well lead to his departure during the offseason. There were whispers of a possible trade at the August 1st deadline this past summer, and as president of baseball operations Nick Krall looks to improve the roster, India may be shipped elsewhere this winter.

1. Reds SS Elly De La Cruz could be the next face of the franchise

Elly De La Cruz is the obvious choice to take over as the face of the Cincinnati Reds franchise. While a awe-inspiring debut filled with power and speed captivated the sports media world, De La Cruz soon came back to earth and showed that he was still just a 21-year-old rookie.

But don't let his rookie struggles detract from the talent that De La Cruz possesses. The lightning-fast infielder has talent that very few in this game actually possess. The speed and power combo would appear to be unmatched by almost anyone in baseball today.

Yes, De La Cruz piled up a massive number of strikeouts in 2023. And yes, he made more errors at shortstop than most Reds fans care to count. That's all part of the learning process for talent that the Cincinnati faithful haven't seen since the debut of Jay Bruce.

Elly De La Cruz already has the media eating out his hand. With the Boras Corporation as his representation, the opportunities off the field will be limitless. De La Cruz's No. 44 already ranks among the Top 20 selling jerseys in Major League Baseball.

Will the production match the hype? That's the question heading into next season. De La Cruz gave the entire baseball community a glimpse of what he could do in 2023. In 2024, the shortstop will have the chance to become a star. Without Joey Votto, Elly De La Cruz is the face of the Reds franchise.