With the 2025 campaign now in the books, it's time for the Cincinnati Reds to take a moment to reflect. There were many positives that came to light and can serve as building blocks for this young team. There were some negatives as well. And then, there's Ke'Bryan Hayes.
Hayes occupies both extremes, making him something of a conundrum moving forward. The polarization of each aspect in his game only serves to obfuscate his future value. After all, by defensive runs saved, he was the fourth best defender in the entire sport, regardless of position. On the other hand, by wRC+ he was the worst qualified hitter in the majors in 2025.