Shocking stat will make even Jonathan India’s biggest fans glad Reds traded him

Most Cincinnati Reds fans have a favorable view of Jonathan India. Seeing the former NL Rookie of the Year in Kansas City Royals' blue undoubtedly dredged up some hurt feelings after watching the Reds trade India to KC this past offseason. Looking at India's defensive statistics, however, will remind Reds fans why the team decided to part ways with the former first-round pick.

India was packaged with former Reds outfielder Joey Wiemer this past November and sent to Kansas City in exchange for starting pitcher Brady Singer. Both players needed a change of scenery. The Royals starting rotation was looking rather deep, but KC certainly could use India's on-base skills atop their lineup. Cincinnati, on the other hand, needed a reliable backend starter, and Singer filled that role quite well.

The Reds have since replaced India at second base with another former first-round pick, Matt McLain. While his bat has been rather silent this season, McLain's defense has been stellar. Among second baseman, McLain's 3 outs above average (OAA) is tied for seventh among all major league players. Unfortunately for India, he grades out as the worst defender in all of baseball with -12 OAA this season.

Jonathan India's defense hasn't gotten any better since leaving the Reds for the Royals

India's defense was always below-average and a point of contention for some of his harshest critics. It was also why, last spring, David Bell made the decision to move India around the diamond as more of a super utility player. Heading into spring training, India was supposed to play first, second, and third base as well as the outfield while McLain transitioned into the Reds' everyday second baseman.

But a preseason injury to McLain and Noelvi Marte's 80-game PED suspension really shook up the Reds' infield. All of the sudden the Reds unfurled a defensive alignment that was underwhelming, and even scary at times. Jeimer Candelario was deployed at third base and India was back at second base. India actually finished the 2024 season with a career-best 1 OAA.

This season, however, has looked like so many of India's previous campaigns. During his rookie season, India was worth -7 OAA, and in 2022 that number (-10 OAA) got even worse. After the 2023 season, India had compiled -23 OAA, and he's now more than halfway to his career total in barely 50 games.

Reds fans may miss India's energy and team-oriented attitude, but they're certainly not missing his porous defense. Even India's bat has let him down this season, hitting just .227/.325/.298 with only one home run with the Royals. The Reds made an unquestioned defensive upgrade when they decided to trade India this past offseason.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors