Justin Lebron’s start in pro ball keeps getting louder.
The Reds’ first-round pick launched his fourth homer in his last five games Thursday, another sign that the 21-year-old shortstop has wasted no time making himself at home in the minors. Through eight professional games, Lebron has collected a hit in six of them, and he added his fifth multi-hit effort in the process.
His 2-for-4 night out of the leadoff spot helped High-A Dayton roll past Quad Cities, 7-1, at Day Air Ballpark.
Lebron sparked a four-run third for the Dragons with a double to left field with one out, then came around to score on a Tyson Lewis single. He went back to work in the fourth, hammering a two-out shot to right-center field that cleared the 402-foot marker.
Now the Reds’ No. 3 prospect, Lebron is off to a scorching .353/.371/.794 start. The second-highest drafted player to come out of Alabama entered the Draft with buzz that once had him in the mix to go No. 1 overall, but an uneven junior year in Tuscaloosa pushed him to Cincinnati at No.
- The Reds signed him a bit over slot value at just under $5 million.
So far, the tools have shown up in a hurry. Lebron’s 60-grade power has already produced four home runs, while his 70-grade speed has helped him swipe two bases and stretch three doubles.
"I feel like one of my biggest things when it comes to playing baseball is to strike fear into your opponents' eyes, and whenever I get in the box, I want the pitcher to look at me and say, 'I don’t want to face him or let him get on base because he's going to cause havoc,'" Lebron said after hitting his first home run. "I've trained with that mentality my whole life and I continue to work day in and day out to be that type of player."
In Other News...
Spencer Steer Update Could Force A Tough Reds Decision
The Reds open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Nick Lodolo on the mound, but there was plenty happening around the roster before the first pitch. Cincinnati added former Braves right-hander Darius Vines on a minor-league deal, a move that gives the organization some extra pitching depth as it keeps sorting through the long grind of the season. Austin Hendricks demotion to Double-A Chattanooga also underscored how quickly the club is still adjusting pieces at the lower levels.
The more pressing watch, though, is Spencer Steer, who is due for a wrist re-evaluation that could determine whether surgery becomes necessary. Any update there would ripple beyond Steer himself, since the Reds have already had to manage lineup uncertainty and can ill afford another extended absence from a player theyve had to count on in multiple roles. For a club trying to keep momentum while navigating injuries and roster churn, this is the kind of situation that could force a difficult decision soon. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Face An Elly De La Cruz Question They Cant Ignore
Terry Francona has made it clear he would rather not keep Elly De La Cruz in the leadoff spot, even with the switch-hitting star still giving the Reds all the traits that normally make a lineup look better at the top. De La Cruz brings speed, plate discipline and the kind of dynamic threat Cincinnati can build around, but the way he has been used has also put extra pressure on both him and Sal Stewart in the heart of the order.
The bigger question is whether the Reds can find a cleaner answer before next season, because this is not a problem that looks likely to solve itself. De La Cruzs slump has come at the same time the club has struggled, and a more traditional table-setter would make sense in theory, but the available choices may not fit Cincinnatis budget or roster needs all that well. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Pham Just Piled Onto A Reds Frustration Fans Already Feel
A dropped fly ball was bad enough for the Reds to absorb in a game against the Cardinals, but the noise around it only grew after Tommy Pham took the criticism public on social media. Pham, who spent time with Cincinnati before moving on and is now in the minor leagues in the Phillies organization, took aim at Dane Myers and suggested the outfielder had put personal numbers ahead of the team, a charge that immediately stirred debate.
For Reds fans already bracing for another round of frustration, the episode added an unwelcome layer to a loss that might otherwise have faded quickly. Phams limited role this season gives his comments a certain awkwardness all their own, but they still landed in a familiar place for Cincinnati: another distraction attached to a team trying to sort out the basics while the conversation turns somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]