After sneaking into the postseason last year, the Cincinnati Reds come into the new season looking to do it again. The front office was kept busy all winter, making a few trades and signing some new faces. 

The biggest splash came when they signed Eugenio Suarez, who is more than familiar with the club. He was with them from 2015 to 2021 and should be the source of power the team is looking for. 

He should pair nicely alongside Elly De La Cruz, but the team could use another star to emerge with them. And some analysts are pointing to Matt McLain. 

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Matt McLain needs to prove he can still be a cornerstone for the Reds

Matt McLain made his MLB debut in 2023 and got off to a great start. He played in 89 regular-season games, hitting .290/.357/.507 with 23 doubles, four triples, and 16 home runs. 

However, he would miss the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair his labrum and address cartilage damage. He would return last season, but he struggled to look like he did in 2023. 

His batting average took a hit, going from .290 to .220, and that will need to change. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly puts the pressure on him to step up this season. 

“The Reds badly need another star to emerge in their lineup to go with Elly De La Cruz. Matt McLain is probably the most logical pick, as he looked like a budding superstar during his first 89 MLB games in 2023, when he posted a 3.2 WAR. Since then, though, McLain missed all of 2024 recovering from left shoulder surgery, and then struggled in 2025, a season he finished with just a .643 OPS.”

If the Reds truly want to get competitive, it’s going to come down to McLain. He needs to show that his 2023 season was not just a flash in the pan.

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