For those Cincinnati Reds fans of a certain age, the idea of watching elite leadoff hitters has often been fleeting. That’s perhaps why we got so dang excited watching Jonathan India take off last year, as the reigning Rookie of the Year looked the perfect prototype for the top of the order with his combination of speed, power, and strike zone prowess.
When it comes to kick-starting the offense, after all, there’s one thing that simply must be the case:
So, when I look up at India’s continued absence and the fact that Cincinnati’s combined production from the leadoff spot this year ranks dead last among all 30 MLB clubs by both OBP and wRC+, seeing the kind of outings we saw on the farm on Tuesday give me a big, fat smile.