The Reds had a messy season overall, but JJ Bleday gave them one of the few true bright spots.
Cincinnati spent much of the year fighting inconsistency, depth problems and bullpen trouble, and the club ended up near the bottom of the National League after last year’s push into the postseason. Still, Bleday emerged as a major win for a team that needed one.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter named Bleday the Reds’ biggest surprise of the season, pointing to just how much value Cincinnati got from a player who arrived on a minor league deal.
"After being non-tendered by the Athletics to start the offseason, Bleday signed a minor league deal with the Reds and started the year at Triple-A Louisville," Reuter wrote. "He was recalled on April 26 and went on to win NL Player of the Month honors in May (1.018 OPS, 17 XBH, 8 HR, 25 RBI). He also hit for the cycle on Aug. 22 against the D-backs, more than delivering on his $1.85 million salary."
That kind of production made Bleday one of the most valuable players on the roster. Chase Burns, Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart were Cincinnati’s top three performers, but Bleday was right behind them in terms of impact.
Over the full season, he hit .217/.324/.416 with a 105 OPS+. He also set a career high with 24 home runs, while adding 17 doubles and two triples across 133 games and 466 at-bats. It was the second-best season of his career.
The bigger takeaway for the Reds is what comes next. Bleday still has a few years of arbitration remaining, giving Cincinnati a chance to keep him at a reasonable price. That makes him a useful piece as the club tries to sort out its direction.
For a team that needs affordable production wherever it can find it, Bleday fits the bill. He gives the Reds the chance at 20 or 30 home runs a year, and he brings veteran presence to the clubhouse, too.
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