Austin Hays’ Early Spark Fades — Time for the Reds to Rethink Cleanup Spot
For most of the season, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays has been locked into the cleanup role. His .775 OPS on the year looks respectable at first glance, but that number is propped up by a scorching start.
Hot Start in Cincinnati
Hays made a huge first impression after signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Reds, posting a 209 wRC+ in March and April with a .365/.431/.712 slash line. Even when it looked like his hot streak had cooled, he briefly caught fire in June with a four-game run slugging .692—only to hit the injured list soon after with a bruised left foot.
Post-IL Struggles
Since returning, Hays’ production has cratered. July brought mediocre numbers—a .247/.336/.366 slash line in 25 games (96 wRC+). But August has been downright brutal: in six games, he’s hitting just .095/.136/.143 (.279 OPS, -32 wRC+). Despite this, he continues to bat cleanup daily for an offense desperate for consistency.
Since May 1, the drop-off has been stark:
- 202 plate appearances: .560 OPS, 50 wRC+ vs. right-handed pitching
- Essentially unplayable against righties, though lethal against lefties
The Split Story
Against lefties this season (68 PA), Hays has raked to the tune of a .344/.412/.639 line (1.051 OPS, 185 wRC+). Against righties, the struggles have been glaring.
Lineup Dilemma
The Reds’ real problem isn’t just Hays’ decline—it’s a lack of better options. He’s an ideal cleanup hitter versus lefties, but there’s no clear replacement against right-handers. Prospect Sal Stewart, raking in Triple-A, could be a September call-up, though his natural positions are already blocked. Cam Collier, another top prospect, is thriving in Double-A but isn’t expected to reach the majors until 2026.
For now, the Reds seem stuck. Moving Hays down makes sense on paper, but with no one else ready to step up, the cleanup spot remains his—at least until the front office finds an answer.
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