This is the first move that needed to be made. There are potentially a few others, but let's start here. Marte has started the year off very slow, quite the opposite from Hinds. Let's talk about it!
Marte has the potential, and has shown it in previous stints in the majors, that he can be a great player. In 90 games last year he hit .263 with 33 extra base hits, 14 of those being HRs. This season has been quite the opposite. In 31 plate appearances he has struck out 10 times. He only has 4 hits, all singles. He doesn't seem to be seeing the ball well this year. He has chased too many pitches outside the strike zone, which has resulted in the 32% strike out rate. Marte is only batting .138 this season, and on a team that needs all the runs they can get, sending him down is the correct move.
His replacement is Rece Hinds. He is tearing up AAA pitching to start the season, to the point it was be organizational malpractice if he wasn't given a shot this season on the big league roster. He is batting .354 in 61 PA, 17 H, 9 XBH, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 13 R. All things this current Reds team desperately needs. Offense was a massive struggle for the team last year, and it is rearing its ugly head again. Is Hinds the missing puzzle piece to a complete line up top to bottom? Maybe he is part, but I don't think he completes the puzzle. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited to see the Reds make a move this early in the season to potentially increase the offense output. But I don't think it should stop here.
This Reds pitching staff has what it takes to win a lot of ball games. Add Lobolo back to the staff and Greene to the rotation come July, this team has a real shot to make some noise in October. That is only if the hitting matches the pitching. That brings me to the next move I would make if I was the Reds.
It is time to send down TJ Friedl. He has appeared in all 16 games batting a measly .153. With only 9 hits, all singles and a few infield hits, his production or lack there of does not meet the needs of this team. They need bats, bad. The Reds can't afford to keep guys in the line up that can't produce even in the slightest. I think his replacement is also easy to find. A guy the Reds added this off season that is also tearing up AAA, not to the same level as Hinds, but with Friedl's start why wouldn't you bring him up. JJ Bleday. He is carrying a .302 average with 16 H, 7 XBH, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 10 R. If Bleday can come up and play a solid outfield and produce with a batting average at or around .250 then he is well worth the call up. He only batted .212 last season with the A's, but after a confidence boost in AAA I think we can expect to see him return to his 2024 form batting .243 with 20 HRs and 43 2Bs.
I am very excited to see the first move be made to elevate Hinds to the major league roster, I just think we need to be more aggressive with the moves and send the guys down who aren't currently producing and elevate the guys who are. 9-7 through 16 games is by no means a dream start. But this has to be the most optimistic I have been for a Reds season in a while, and I don't think I am alone in that. I think a lot of fans see the potential this team can live up to, we just need the right guys in the line up.
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