The Cincinnati Reds are 11-12 and third in the National League Central. Their pitching has been fantastic to start the season, but the offense has struggled early on. They have been better as of late, most notably putting 24 runs on the board against the Baltimore Orioles in Sunday’s victory. While their mainstays have had an on and off start to the season, the Reds bench players have stepped up big time on both sides of the ball.
For clarification, the bench players in mentioned below will include current starters who will inevitably be moved to a more reduced role once the regular starter at their position returns from injury.
**All stats as of April 22**
Reds Getting Steady Production from Bench Players
Austin Wynns (C)
The 34 year-old backup to Jose Trevino has been on an absolute tear to begin 2025. Wynns’ 2024 season was essentially a wash, playing just seven games before hitting the shelf for the remainder of the year. In those games, however, Wynns racked up 0.4 bWAR, thanks to his .368/.400/.579 slash line for a .979 OPS.
He has begun 2025 on a similar path, except at an ever higher level, as he is currently slashing .455/.500/.727 for a 1.227 OPS and 233 OPS+ in nine games. He recorded a six-hit game in the 24-2 win on Sunday, bringing his bWAR totals up to 0.6 on the year already. Once Tyler Stephenson returns from injury, Wynns will be the third catcher, or not on the roster anymore, but his bat has undoubtedly aided a struggling Reds offense to begin the year.
Austin Wynns is 6-for-7 today
The @Reds have scored 24 total runs! pic.twitter.com/hbxup0e60z
— MLB (@MLB) April 20, 2025
Santiago Espinal (2B/3B/SS/LF/RF)
The Reds utility man off the bench has been doing his job to perfection so far this season. Espinal has made seven appearances at third base (five starts), seven at second base (six starts), three in right field (two starts), one at shortstop (zero starts), and one at left field (one start). He is capable of handling multiple infield and outfield positions, making him valuable injury insurance off the bench.
Offensively, Espinal has slashed .264/.339/.321 for a .660 OPS and 83 OPS+. This is essentially the same level he has produced at in the past three seasons, with his lone All-Star season in 2021 standing as an anomaly with a 113 OPS+ that year.
Espinal does not have to be a 113 OPS+ hitter to be successful for Cincinnati (although it would help). He simply has to continue to be a serviceable hitter who plays his usual defensive role at wherever manager Terry Francona desires.
Gavin Lux (LF/3B/2B)
Lux has gotten a lot of burn in the starting lineup to begin the year, mostly in left field. Now that Austin Hays has returned from the IL, Lux’s role will likely be reduced to occasional starts in various positions rather than a true everyday player. He has shown flashes of good defense out in left field, but the occasional struggle of reading the ball off the bat proves that he is a natural infielder. Again, with Hays back, Lux can expect more appearances in the infield and at DH.
Offensively, he is slashing .315/.419/.425 for an .843 OPS and 133 OPS+. He has continued to show his excellent eye at the plate, as his 16.0 Chase% is the second lowest in the league. He has done his job exceptionally well on offense, and he should be continuing to see the different ways Terry Francona tries to incorporate his bat into the lineup.
Blake Dunn (OF)
Dunn has slid down to the fourth outfielder role after Hays’ return. His blazing speed provides him with solid outfield defense, and in 44 at-bats this year, he has slashed .188/.409/.313 for a .722 OPS. He will serve more as a defensive replacement and pinch hitter as the season progresses as his speed will be a major factor off the bench.
Jose Trevino (C)
While yes, he is the current Reds starting catcher, Tyler Stephenson is on the way back from an oblique injury that has kept him out since the end of spring training. Trevino is certainly a starting level catcher, but with Stephenson back, he will likely serve as the backup. Although, with how well he has played and Stephenson most likely needing some time to get his groove back, we can easily see them split time, as well as potentially see Trevino DH on occasion.
His career .644 OPS may not seem like a good DH candidate, but his .804 OPS to start this season sure does. If his 119 OPS+ stands, it will be the first time he has ever reached an OPS+ mark above 94.
The post Reds Getting a Lot of Bench Production to Start the Season appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.