Since 2010 the Cincinnati Reds have managed to make the playoffs four times and only once in the last 10 years. While the team has seen success in the 1900s, the 21st century has been filled with an abundance of disappointment and remotely no success.

Despite a successful 2020 season which lead to the first playoff berth in seven years, the Reds blew the team up after that season and went in a completely new direction. 

However, despite the success, the Reds wanted more than to be a borderline .500 team. Through the next couple of seasons, the Reds cleaned house and built up draft capital through poor performance and the exchange of many players for draft capital from other teams.

The Reds would then build a team up over the last few years built to compete today, and in the future. However, one player of notability is Jonathan India, who was drafted fifth overall in 2018 and is still with the team today. As well as 40-year-old legend Joey Votto, who was been a Red his whole career, and catcher Tyler Stephenson. That said, aside from those three, the bulk of the talent on the Reds team today has come from trades and draft picks throughout the last few seasons.

In the 2020 season, the Reds pushed a winning record behind their star, right fielder, Nick Castellanos, starting pitcher Trevor Baure, 3rd baseman, Eugenio Suarez, starting pitcher, Luis Castillo, left fielder, Jessy Winker, relief pitcher, Raisel Iglesias, catcher, Tucker Barnhart, starting pitcher Tyler Mahle, and 2nd baseman, to this day, Jonathan India.

On August 3, 2021, the Reds sent starting pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for right fielder Spencer Steer, and first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Now, they are both starters on the Reds team and have provided an abundance of help in the 2023 season.

On March 14, 2022, the Reds sent Winker and Suarez to the Seattle Mariners for Justin Dunn, outfielder Jake Fraley, and minor league starting pitchers Brandon Williamson and Connor Phillips. Following that, on July 30, 2022, baseball history would be shaken for an eternity as the Reds traded Castillo to the Mariners as well, for four young prospects Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt, and Andrew Moore. To this day, shortstop Noelvi Marte is a top prospect on the bats, as well as Edwin Arroyo who is only 19, and Levi Stoudt who is on the Reds team roster.

Aside from trades, the Reds accumulated an abundance of talent in the draft. In 2015, the Reds selected superstar closing pitcher Alexis Diaz in the 12th round, and after years in the minors, he made his first Major League appearance in 2021 and has been a star since.

Additionally, in 2016, the Reds signed

undrafted free agent, centerfielder T.J. Friedl to a one-year, $750,000 deal, which was the biggest contract for an undrafted player in MLB history!

Lastly, this year, in the draft the Reds selected the most exciting player in baseball, shortstop Elly De La Cruz, and then, with the 17th pick, they selected right fielder Matt McLain, who has shined since day one.

Behind so much talent, the Reds have prompted a very rare over.500 season, filled with an abundance of excitement, and media rage. From the get-go, the team was performing solid, however, on May 15th, a month and a half into the season, the Reds brought up Matt McLain, then, on June 6th, the Reds added Elly de la Cruz to the mix. With the addition of these two young stars, the team soared and went on a 12-game winning streak in June. Following this, the Reds had an 18-9 record in July.

Since that point, the team has had its ups and downs, but the will to win and excitement throughout the team is still abundantly clear. From legends like Votto to rising stars like McLain and Cruz, the team is loaded with talent and when hot, can achieve anything.

Throughout the season, the Reds have had many battles, including the division rival, Milwaukee Brewers. Along with this, the Reds have had many great fights in 3 game series versus a large variety of teams.

“With an abundance of charisma and a huge amount of effort, this team is must-watch baseball,” junior Kadin Bush said. ” I can’t wait to see what is next for the team, because it can be special.”