These stats are rough—especially for Jonathan India.
Most Cincinnati Reds fans still hold Jonathan India in high regard. So, seeing the former NL Rookie of the Year donning a Kansas City Royals uniform likely stirred up some emotions following the Reds’ decision to trade him this past offseason. But a look at India’s defensive numbers quickly clarifies why the Reds chose to move on from the former first-round pick.
India was traded alongside former Reds outfielder Joey Wiemer to the Royals last November in a deal that brought starting pitcher Brady Singer to Cincinnati. It was a fresh start for both players. While the Royals had solid pitching depth, they saw value in adding India’s ability to get on base. The Reds, meanwhile, needed a dependable back-end starter, and Singer has filled that need effectively.
To replace India at second base, the Reds turned to another former first-rounder, Matt McLain. Although McLain’s offense has been underwhelming this year, his glove work has been outstanding. His 3 Outs Above Average (OAA) ties him for seventh among all MLB second basemen. India, on the other hand, has struggled mightily on defense—ranking dead last in the league with -12 OAA this season.
Jonathan India’s defense hasn’t gotten any better since leaving the Reds for the Royals
India’s defense has long been viewed as a weakness and was often a sticking point for his toughest critics. That concern is part of what led manager David Bell to shift India into more of a utility role last spring. Heading into the 2024 season, the plan was for India to move around the field—playing first, second, third base, and even some outfield—while Matt McLain took over as the Reds’ everyday second baseman.
But things didn’t go as planned. A preseason injury to McLain, coupled with Noelvi Marte’s 80-game suspension for PED use, threw the Reds’ infield plans into disarray. As a result, the team rolled out a makeshift infield alignment that at times looked shaky. Jeimer Candelario took over third base, and India returned to second. Despite the uncertainty, India ended up posting a career-best 1 Out Above Average (OAA) in 2024.
This year, however, has looked more like a return to his old defensive struggles. As a rookie, India posted -7 OAA, and that dropped to -10 in 2022. By the end of the 2023 season, he had accumulated -23 OAA—and in just over 50 games this year, he’s already more than halfway to that total again.
While Reds fans may still appreciate India’s leadership and spark in the clubhouse, they’re likely not missing his defensive lapses. Even his offensive production has fallen off with the Royals—he’s slashing just .227/.325/.298 with a single home run. All in all, Cincinnati made a clear defensive upgrade when they moved on from India this past winter.
