Sports
By Oliver Thomas, Staff Writer
After an underwhelming 77-win season, the Cincinnati Reds are looking to take the next step and propel themselves into the National League playoff picture this coming season. From hiring a highly respected manager to numerous trades and signings, it has been a busy offseason in the Queen City.
Just a week after firing manager David Bell, Cincinnati shocked the baseball world by hiring supposedly retired Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona. Francona, who led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series wins, is one of the most respected leaders in the sport. For a team with the eighth-youngest roster in baseball, Francona is the perfect fit to create a winning culture and help the young players succeed.
The front office’s first move at the end of last season was trading former Rookie of the Year Johnathan India and outfielder Joey Weimer to the Kansas City Royals, a move that received pushback from the Reds faithful fans. Even though losing a fan favorite like India can sting, the move makes sense for Cincinnati. India was on an expiring contract with one year left and was likely looking for a long-term contract that a small market team like Cincinnati would be hesitant to give out.
After stepping down as manager of the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 because of health issues, Terry Francona has made his way to Southwestern Ohio to head the Cincinnati Reds in hopes of bringing them back to their glory days.
In return, Cincinnati received right-handed starting pitcher Brady Singer from Kansas City. While Singer may not be the big name that fans were hoping for, he fits in well with what the Reds need. One of Singer’s strengths is his ability to keep the ball on the ground, as he lands in the 79th percentile in ground ball percentage. In one of the league’s most hitter-friendly ballparks, having a pitcher that keeps the ball out of the air is a major benefit to the Reds.
Singer also addresses one of the biggest holes in the Reds roster right now. Going into the 2025 season, the only truly established names in the starting pitching rotation were Hunter Greene and Nick Martinez. Cincinnati needed another reliable arm on their roster.
The back end of the rotation is likely to be the sixth’ and seventh’ ranked right-handed pitching prospects in baseball as former college teammates at Wake Forest University Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns look to boost Cincinnati’s pitching staff this year.
Lowder, the No. 7 overall pick in 2023, wasted no time in his major league debut, posting a 1.17 ERA across six appearances. He has shown that he will be a key piece for Cincinnati this upcoming season.
Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, has a fastball and slider that scouts have marveled over, as he has been able to touch triple digits with his fastball consistently. Burns is yet to make his minor league debut after the Reds chose to rest him after pitching deep into his college season, but it is expected he will be seen on the field for the Reds at some point this season.
Cincinnati also bolstered their bullpen, adding left-handed reliever Taylor Rodgers. The 34-year-old posted a 2.4 ERA and will be a major help for the San Francisco Giants bullpen that struggled at times last year. Most of the Reds bullpen success will rely on closer and former All Star Alexis Diaz, who had a career low season with a 3.99 ERA for the Reds last year.
Offensively, the Reds will look for a jump in run support. It all will start with the 23-year-old face of the franchise, shortstop Elly De La Cruz. If Cincinnati wants to make their first playoff appearance since 2020, it will take another stellar year from their young superstar. Cruz led the league in stolen bases with 67 and carried a .810 on-base plus slugging percentage, showing why he is one of the best young players in the sport.
Cincinnati has worked to build a supporting cast around de la Cruz this offseason by recently acquiring 27-year-old second baseman Gavin Cruz from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The former No. 2 overall prospect still has some untapped potential after a slightly underwhelming start to his career out west. With Matt McLain’s recent success at second base, fans can expect to see Gavin Lux in the designated hitter spot early in the year.
With a new manager and a slew of new faces in the locker room, now is the perfect time for Cincinnati to make a run at a division title in an underwhelming NL central.
