GOODYEAR, Arizona – According to Cincinnati Reds infielder Kyle Farmer, the Reds starting shortstop is going to be whoever drives in the most runs. But with one month until the start of the season, the Reds are still working to learn exactly who that will be.
None of the Reds shortstops drove in more than four runs last season, but either Farmer or Dee Strange-Gordon are the leading candidates to start for Cincinnati on Opening Day.
The opportunity has led to those players making adjustments at the plate. The biggest changes came from Farmer, who now uses a higher leg kick to get “on top of the ball” and hit more line drives.
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“It was hard for him to stay behind that front side, so he was susceptible to off speed pitches, sliders down and away,” Reds hitting coach Alan Zinter said. “He looks really, really good at staying behind the ball on command on his control, which is really comforting to see, because that’s going to allow him to have more of a natural plate discipline, and barrel balls up cleaner.”
Dee Strange-Gordon, who the Reds signed to a Minor League contract in February, was once one of the best contact hitters in MLB. He won the batting title in 2015, and he has led MLB in stolen bases in a season three times.
But among players with 1,000 at-bats since 2018, Strange-Gordon has the fourth-lowest on-base percentage, the worst slugging percentage and the second-worst OPS in MLB.
Strange-Gordon has said that being fully healthy this season will lead to improvements at the plate, and Zinter said he believes Strange-Gordon can take a step forward in 2021.
“He says he hasn’t felt this healthy in a few years, and it’s exciting, because he’s a guy that has won a batting title,” Zinter said. “He’s a perfect puzzle piece to a team that is built for power, because we don't have much speed, and we don’t have the guys that are hitting line drives all over the field. He would be a great piece to our team.”
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Prospect Jonathan India eager for a chance at MLB
Jonathan India hasn’t played a competitive baseball game since 2019, and he finished that season in the Arizona Fall League with a .133 batting average and a .587 OPS.
But India, the Reds top infield prospect and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, isn’t the same player he was in 2019.
“You look at the progress he’s made over the last year, it’s very significant,” manager David Bell said.” (He had) great reports from (the Reds alternate site) last year. He very much stood out amongst the players there.”
A gap-to-gap hitter who has played second and third base, India has hit at nearly every Minor League level. In 2018 at Florida, India had a .350 batting average and a 1.213 OPS. In 2019 in AA with the Reds, India had a .270 batting average and a .792 OPS.
With the steps forward he’s made since then, India said he’s ready to face Major League hitting.
“I was ready last year but I got hurt,” India said. “It’s really not my decision. I just have to play to the best of my ability and what I know I can do. I believe that I am a big leaguer.”
At the moment, there isn’t a starting spot for India at his two main positions. India was a third baseman in college, but he focused on second base at the Reds alternate site last season.
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“The good news is he can play third base, and we’re confident he can play second base,” Bell said. “That helps. If he continues to progress like he has been, it could happen really soon.”
With the Reds lack of infield depth, India could have an opportunity with the Reds if second baseman Mike Moustakas or third baseman Eugenio Suárez misses time. When India makes it to the big leagues, he believes he’ll be ready to have a consistent role.
“I feel so strong right now, better than I ever have,” India said. “I’m really excited for this Spring Training and to showcase my talents and go a step in the right direction this year.”
Reds planning for Spring Training games
The Reds Spring Training schedule begins Sunday with a game against Cleveland in Goodyear, Arizona.
This season, Spring Training games through March 13 may be shortened to five-inning games or seven-inning games upon mutual agreement of both managers.
Bell announced Saturday that the Reds Spring Training opener will be an eight inning game, and José De León is expected to start.
Bell added that he’ll split time among regulars in the early Spring Training games, and he’ll tailor the Reds game schedule to fit the plan for pitchers.
For Spring Training games through March 13, defensive managers can end an inning prior to three outs following any completed plate appearance once the pitcher has thrown at least 20 pitches.
Bell said that rule will help the Reds during Spring Training.
“It’s in the best interest of our players’ health, the best interest of pitchers for sure throughout baseball, which is really important,” Bell said. “There’s still some unknowns of just how everyone will respond to everything we’ve been through the last year. I’m confident that the extra care and extra thought that’s been put into all of this will actually turn out much better than our fears.”
MLB Network announced that Cincinnati’s game on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels and on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers will be televised on MLB Network. That will be the first opportunity to see the Reds on television during Spring Training.
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