A Reds six-pack to root for:
Players with a high rootability factory…
Tejay Antone:
Coming back from Tommy John surgery is challenging….coming back from two is a really big ask…..coming back from three? It has only been done twice in MLB history. But who wants to tell the 32-year old ‘no’? He fired a scoreless inning on Sunday, topping out at 95 mph, and striking out Seattle’s 60 homer run guy, Cal Raleigh. Can he make it back? He could be a veteran stabilizing force in the pen as Tito and Derek Johnson sort through the unevenness of youngsters like Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey. He’s writing a book about his comeback. What a chapter this would be.
Will Benson:
The smile and fire have defined him, but so have his struggles. He’s an ‘intangibles guy’. The Reds were 34-27 when he started last season, 49-52 when he didn’t. While he hit .226 last season, he consistently hit the ball hard. He’s still chasing his 2023 when he hit .275-.365-.498-.863. He did belt 12 homers in 230 at-bats last season, and posted an .881 OPS in September.
Matt McLain:
He homered in three straight games the first week of last season, but then struggled the rest of the way. It was impossible to not feel for him as he flailed at one breaking ball after another. He’s a gamer that knows how to play the game. Imagine if the 2023 of McLain returns. As he goes in 2026, so might the Reds.
Tyler Callihan:
His tail-busting, all-out dive into a foul line wall in Atlanta ended his season. But it likely cemented his standing as a guy this city will always remember and root for. Injuries have followed him since being a 3rd round pick in 2019. He’s healthy. He’s playing. He will fight for the 26th spot on the roster.
Brandon Williamson:
The 27-year old left-hander is finally healthy. Knock on wood. He’s reinvented himself this offseason, tapping into more velocity. He hasn’t pitched since 2024. He made 23 MLB starts in 2023. He’s likely Louisville bound. But he’s a key depth figure for the Reds rotation.
Chase Petty:
The 22-year old made his MLB debut last season as the 27th man in a doubleheader at the end of April. He was the youngest Reds pitcher to appear in a game since Homer Bailey in 2007. He got hammered by the Cardinals, allowing nine runs and two homers in 2.1 innings. Despite the struggles, he was recalled 11 days later when Hunter Greene went on the IL, and got hammered by the Astros. His Triple-A season became a disaster, posting a 6.39 ERA. Can the former 1st round pick of the Twins, and Top 100 prospect, get back on track?
Who is a player you are rooting for?