The Reds have plenty of left-handed hitting outfielders on their roster. On January 28, the Reds added a righty, in former All-Star Austin Hays. Hays heads to Ohio after a forgetful season for him, one filled with injuries and sliding down the Orioles’ depth chart.
A Look at Hays
The 2024 campaign was essentially a wash for Austin Hays, who was an AL All-Star a year earlier. Back in 2023, Hays hit .275/.325/.444 (.769 OPS) with 16 home runs and a career-best 53 extra-base hits.
Most of that damage was done in the first half, when he batted .314 (.853 OPS) with nine home runs. He went cold in the second half, batting only .227 (.667 OPS). Then, in 2024, Hays lost his regular role in Baltimore to Colton Cowser, pushing him to a reserve role.
The Phillies acquired Hays in July to slot into a corner outfield spot, as Philadelphia wanted an offensive upgrade to complement Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas. However, Hays only played 22 games thanks to a hamstring strain and kidney infection. He finished with a .255/.303/.396 (.699 OPS) over 85 games last season and was non-tendered in November.
A former top prospect, Hays has had a penchant for making consistent contact in the Minors and did so during the early portions of his career. However, Hays’ Whiff% has jumped in years, from 23.5% in 2022 to 29.1% in 2024.
When he’s clicking, Hays is an aggressive, yet smart hitter who can stay back on breaking balls. He hit .249 off breaking balls back in 2022, with slightly lower numbers in 2023-24.
Hays has generally posted similar splits against lefties and righties. However, that wasn’t the case in 2024. Hays hit .354/.404/.537 (.941 OPS, 90 PA) against left-handed pitching, compared to .203/.248/.320 (.568 OPS, 165 PA) against same-sided pitchers.
As we noted when Hays was traded last summer, the former Oriole showed power but saw his home run numbers dip while in Baltimore. The “Great Wall of Baltimore” didn’t help, as Hays had several hit baseballs — which can vary depending on weather conditions and other elements — that didn’t leave because of it.
Take, for example, this one that Statcast rated would have left in 13 different parks, including Great American Ballpark.
Defensively, Hays can slot in left and right. The 29-year-old has a strong arm, ranking in the 86th percentile per Statcast (90.1 MPH) last season.
Per MLB.com, the Reds will sign Austin Hays to a one-year deal worth $5MM.
Analysis
Right now, the Reds have a lot of outfielders — eight, to be exact — on their 40-man roster, and will add a ninth with Hays (assuming none of their current group gets DFA’d). However, there’s plenty of opportunity for Hays.
Spencer Steer is locked in as a corner outfielder heading into 2025, while TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley — for now — have the upper hand for starting roles.
Both Fraley and Friedl are left-handed bats, as is Will Benson. Benson put up good numbers in 2023 with the Reds. But, the strikeout-prone player — much like in the Minors — had his problems with the K in 2024. He struck out 154 times over 128 games and didn’t make much contact thanks to a sky-high 39% Whiff%.
Hays can easily slot in as a platoon player. Fraley (.564 OPS against LHP) had his own troubles against same-sided pitching. And, he’s got more experience and more of a track record compared to their other options, like Rece Hinds, Stuart Fairchild, and the toolsy Blake Dunn.
Most importantly for Hays, he’ll go to a significantly friendlier hitting environment.
In other Reds-related news, shortstop Elly De La Cruz was named one of three MLB The Show 25 cover athletes on January 28.