This Reds player should be terrified that Terry Francona is Cincy's new manager

After David Bell was fired, it was widely reported that the Cincinnati Reds players were looking for someone to hold them accountable. Jonathan India was one of the loudest voices in the Reds' clubhouse, saying, "We need someone that’s going to be more aggressive and keep us accountable."

Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. As fired up as the Reds' fanbase is that Terry Francona was named Cincinnati's new skipper, some of the players in the clubhouse may not know what they're in for. Francona is well respected throughout the game, and if anyone is ready to light a fire under these players, it's Tito.

With Francona installed as the Reds new manager, there is one player whose standing on the team may be in jeopardy .Will Benson played for Francona while he was in the Cleveland Guardians organization and was then traded to the Reds prior to the 2023 season. Uh oh!

Will Benson may be on the hot seat after the Reds hired Terry Francona to be the new manager

There are extenuating circumstances that can cause of team to trade away a player, but in general, teams cling tightly to players that are seen as having value for an organization. Benson was a first-round pick of the Guardians back in 2016, but was traded to the Reds in exchange for Steve Hajjar and outfield prospect Justin Boyd. Benson had worn out his welcome in Cleveland, and he was looking for a fresh start in Cincinnati.

Benson was a breath of fresh air during the Reds' 2023 campaign. The outfielder famously slammed his bat into the ground upon hitting a walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during June of that season and immediately ingratiated himself with the Reds fanbase. Benson hit .275/.365/.498 that season and was picked by many to be the Reds' everyday right fielder in 2024.

This past season couldn't have gone much worse for Benson. While his defense was more than serviceable, Benson couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. The 26-year-old hit just .187/.274/.376 and struck out 154 times in just 343 at-bats.

Benson was already on thin ice heading into spring training next year, and with Tito at the helm, he may want to pack light. It's doubtful that the Reds will trade Benson this offseason, but there's a good chance that he'll start the 2025 season in the minor leagues.

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