Reds Preseason Thoughts
Sitting in my office, on a very beautiful, sunny Ohio Saturday in February, I can’t help but daydream just a bit about the most wonderful time of the year. For those of us who have the baseball gene written into our DNA, you already know – it's Spring Training with Opening Day right around the corner!
In the baseball world, over this past winter we’ve seen some big moves – maybe even giant ones! We’ve watched to soap-opera of Shohei Ohtani unfold and his massive contract. Along with the willingness of some clubs to let go of guys who still seem in their prime and a willingness to spend big dollars to fill some roster spots. In all honesty I think it has put the baseball world on notice and started the rumor mill about who can beat these teams that have thrown caution and money into the wind.
I can tell you I am excited to see how the returning World Series Champs look this season – Can they repeat their performance? They are a strong club with solid, smart pitching – they won’t go quietly. Can someone please keep the Astros out of contention for at least one season! I don’t think the Diamondbacks will make a repeat run like 2023 – this young team is full of potential – so it will be fun to watch.
But let’s talk a bit about the Cincinnati Reds and what I predict for this season...
Everyone can agree, over the years Cincinnati has had some questionable years when we look at our trades, drafts, roster moves and front office decisions. Our farm system consistently brings in fantastic, young ball players that we have failed to develop at the major league level. Also, we’ve watched some short-lived playmakers that ultimately ended up playing elsewhere, leaving Reds fans scratching our heads.
Is there a new trend for 2024? We have seen the front office making some really smart additions to our pitching core – in my opinion this is where we struggle to close the door and win games, especially deeper into the season. If we keep Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo healthy – we have potential!
Rhett Lowder is really high on my radar. He’s a smart pitcher who has progressively fined tuned his skills over the fall, ultimately gaining velocity and accuracy. His fastball is reported to sit easily in the 92-95 mph range, tapping out around 97 mph. This alongside his off-speed pitches that run in the mid 80’s, should create a shift in the way we win games - allow our defense to showcase while our hitters run up the score board. And from reports, this kid has an ability to learn his hitters quickly and can adapt well within the later innings of the game.
Another young pitcher I am cautiously optimistic to see is the righty Connor Phillips. He seems to have some nice potential and I will be excited to see how he works through his strike zone accuracy and builds on his velocity. Overall, I think he will be a nice complement to our squad by mid-season.
A brief nod to Joey Votto – yes, I am still reeling from that loss! I guarantee we will miss his leadership on and off the field and his ability to come in at clutch times. I recognize that his production over the years had moments of questionability, but you need the age and wisdom of a “team guy” to pull a clubhouse together. Overall, it's a loss for the team and a win for the checkbook – so I get it. I am interested to see how our young guys like McClain, Benson and Steer step up and take on that role. What about India? Will he be part of this squad and help us push to post-season play?
Lastly, I can’t leave here without a shout out to the fact our club has multiple players on the Holy Grail of offseason rankings Top 100 Prospects List. I nothing but adrenaline rushing through my veins when I think about seeing a lineup card boasting De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Matt McClain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and outfield that has speed and youth along with some impressive plate appearances!
Our division is always competitive and will have some exciting matchups. In past seasons I’ve looked at our schedule and immediately identified teams our club just isn’t strong enough to beat – but this year, I think we are a top tier club with potential to run right through the regular season and finish strong in the post-season. I think we win our division easily. I’m not certain we have the overall depth in our bullpen to make us a serious World Series champs in 2024, but we’re building a club with great potential in the very near future.
Article submitted by Dallas King