BREAKING: Austin Hays makes crucial admission for important new role in the Cincinnati outfield during spring training
The Cincinnati Reds signed outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year, $5 million contract this offseason, essentially choosing to overlook his struggles from the previous year.
Hays battled a kidney infection and experienced his first midseason trade in the majors, leading to a downturn in performance. He posted a 101 OPS+—his lowest in a full season since 2020—while playing the fewest games in any non-COVID-shortened year. His power numbers also dipped significantly, hitting just five home runs after launching 54 over the prior three seasons, and his .396 slugging percentage fell well below his career .437 mark entering 2024.
If the Reds attribute his decline to injuries, it’s reasonable to consider his potential beyond last season’s struggles. Notably, he excelled against left-handed pitching in 2023, posting a .941 OPS, though he struggled against righties (.569 OPS). However, extreme BABIP splits (.491 vs. LHP, .233 vs. RHP) suggest that luck played a role in those disparities. In previous seasons, Hays was more balanced at the plate, with a .725 OPS vs. RHP and .703 vs. LHP in 2022, followed by a near-even split in 2023 (.763 vs. RHP, .786 vs. LHP).
While those numbers aren’t elite, they could be enough to secure him a regular role in Cincinnati’s lineup. Some fans were frustrated that the Reds opted for Hays over a bigger-name free agent, but given the team’s current roster construction, his ability to contribute against both righties and lefties might earn him an everyday spot.
Hays made a strong case for himself in Cactus League action on Monday, hitting a home run and a double off right-handed pitchers and adding another homer off a lefty as part of a six-RBI performance. After the game, he told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon that he’s determined to prove he’s back to his best form.
If Hays secures the left field job full-time, it would shake up the Reds’ lineup. Against right-handed pitchers, he’d likely join TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley in the outfield, forcing Gavin Lux and Spencer Steer into a crowded 1B/3B/DH mix alongside Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. That logjam means one extra player for the available starting spots, suggesting manager Terry Francona may need to implement a rotation.
Of course, this depends on the roster staying healthy—something that wasn’t the case last season. If Hays re-establishes his ability to hit right-handed pitching, it would likely push Will Benson off the 26-man roster and send him to Triple-A, with the bench spots going to Stuart Fairchild, Santiago Espinal, and backup catcher Jose Trevino.
For now, the Reds have a promising situation—everyone is healthy, and their key offseason signing is already showing signs of a potential rebound.