When Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jason Vosler stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning on Monday night, the odds weren't in his favor.
Vosler, a left-handed hitter, was facing Chicago Cubs left-handed starter Drew Smyly. Vosler had entered the game off the bench as an injury replacement for Jose Barrero. He made the Reds’ Opening Day roster as the presumptive injury replacement for Joey Votto. After toiling in the minors for over 3,222 at-bats, Vosler had survived and carved out an opportunity with the 2023 Reds.
The minor league free agent signing has turned into the surprise standout of the first week of the Reds’ young season.