The 2021 Cincinnati Reds experienced some serious high points as well as some serious low points. They finished with an 83-79 record and ended the season as the 3rd seed in the NL Wild Card race. The 2021 Cincinnati Reds experienced many memorable moments, games and performances.
To have one player in the MVP conversation is a big achievement for most MLB teams. Throughout the 2021 season, the Reds showcased multiple players that were in the MVP conversation. If not for injuries, the Reds had three players that had MVP caliber seasons, in Jesse Winker, Joey Votto, and Nick Castellanos.
Joey Votto
Joey Votto had a memorable age 37 season. His 2021 season was one of the best seasons of his entire MLB career. He tallied an impressive 36 home runs, 99 RBIs, and a .375 on-base percentage. Most notably, the second half of the season was where he shined the brightest. He made a second-half push for the MVP that eventually fizzled out due to inconsistent play down the stretch.
Nick Castellanos
Nick Castellanos was probably the Reds’ best player for the 2021 season. His 2021 season was highlighted by an All-Star appearance and a .309 batting average. He also tallied a career-high in home runs, with 34 this year. Castellanos was often the player that thrived in big situations throughout the year. When the Reds needed him most, Castellanos played at his best. And if this season was the last time he would put a Reds uniform on, the Reds and the fans should all be thankful for the memories he brought in his stint with them.
Jesse Winker
Jesse Winker was tremendous for the 2021 season. Of the three, Winker dealt with the most injuries as he only played 110 games. He was spectacular in those 110 games though. He held a .305/.394/.556 slash line as well as 24 home runs, 32 doubles and 71 RBIs. Winker brought a ton of energy and excitement to the Reds this year. The Reds will look forward to him getting healthy for next season.
Reds rookies were a huge part of their 2021 season. They had a ton of rookies show promise during this season. A few of the notable names are Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, Vladimir Gutierrez, Tony Santillan and Jose Barrero.
Jonathan India
Jonathan India was the spark in the Reds lineup this season. The rookie played in an impressive 150 games, through multiple injuries. He was an on-base machine as he held a .376 OBP for the year. This was paired with his impressive power, showcased by his 21 home runs and 34 doubles. He has a serious case for the NL Rookie of the Year.
Tyler Stephenson
Stephenson looks to take over the Reds catching duties in 2022 as their full-time catcher. Stephenson had to battle through being a platoon player during the 2021 season. The Reds are expected to decline the option for veteran Tucker Barnhart, which would open up more time for Stephenson. He was the most clutch player for the Reds, coming up with multiple game-winning hits during the season.
Vladimir Gutierrez
Vladimir Gutierrez was the most surprising rookie this season. Before the season, Gutierrez was an afterthought for having a role in the 2021 Reds season. He showed promising composure and maturity for a rookie that was thrown into the fire early in the year. He held down the back end of the rotation, posting a 9-6 record and a 4.74 ERA.
The Reds’ pitching staff had a pretty average 2021 season. There were some good performances and a few memorable moments by both the starting rotation and the bullpen. These moments were all overshadowed by a Wade Miley pitching performance. On May 7, Wade Miley tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. He only walked one batter and struck out eight in the effort. No matter how the season finished, this performance was memorable and shined above the rest.
The Reds season didn’t end like they would have liked. The Reds have a few important pieces that could enter free agency. As the offseason is beginning, the Reds will need to have a successful couple of months if they plan to contend again in 2022. They will bring back a good amount of talent and the 2022 season has potential to be even better than the 2021 season. Buckle up Reds fans, this offseason will be really important for the future of the franchise.
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