Less than six weeks ago, Jonathan India was taking batting practice at spring training and almost no one was watching.
The Cincinnati Reds big leaguers were a few fields away at the complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and so was the MLB coaching staff. India’s MLB debut didn’t seem imminent as he hit line drives to all parts of the field.
Then on Opening Day against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, India ran out of the dugout to loud cheers as the Reds starting second baseman. Cincinnati lost 11-6, but India went 2-for-4 with a line-drive single and a double to left field in his MLB debut.
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“Before the game, I was waiting for the nerves to kick in. I wasn’t nervous up there. I was comfortable with the guys,” India said. “It all started in spring training with the group of guys we had that made me feel comfortable out there. They made me feel like I’d been there before.”
One of the biggest factors in the Reds' shakeup in the infield was giving India the chance to hit every day. In his first MLB game, facing Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty, India was one of three Reds players with more than one hit. He took advantage of every defensive opportunity he had, including a diving stop on a ground ball up the middle.
All day, India’s teammates were telling him to breathe and enjoy the moment.
Early Thursday afternoon, India was one of the first position players to take batting practice. For a while, he alternated between hitting line drives and hitting for power. He went back-and-forth between going for a low line drive up the middle and going for a home run shot.
India showed he can hit the ball hard and far.
“He knows that he’s good,” right fielder Nick Castellanos said. “When you know you’re good, you have confidence. When you have confidence, you believe in yourself, and things slow down.”
India said he was just as confident in the field. Before the first pitch, he said he knew that the first ball would be hit his way. And it was, as Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman hit a soft ground ball to India, who made the routine play to first.
When India returned to the dugout, manager David Bell said everyone told India, “The ball will find you.”
“It looked like he was very, very comfortable on a Major League field, on our team,” Bell said. “It helps that he knows who he is. He’s confident. He comes right in. He’s a big part of this team, he’s ready not only on the field but in the clubhouse.”
India said he planned to give the ball from his first hit to his parents after the game. He dedicated his hit in his MLB debut to them.
“To see them after the game, my mom was crying,” India said. “It was a beautiful thing to me. It’s something I’ll never forget, I’ll always cherish it, I’ll always carry it with me through my career. I’m excited for the rest. Let’s play some more baseball.”
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