Reds Lead MLB in Hitting With Runners in Scoring Position
So far in 2025, the Cincinnati Reds have had the most puzzling offense in baseball. The 24 runs scored this past weekend against the Baltimore Orioles have made many forget the team was shut out for three straight days. The inconsistencies at the plate have made for the offense being one of the most unpredictable in baseball, yet, if there is one thing for certain every game, it is that the Reds will hit once runners are halfway to home base.
23 games into their season, the Reds lead the MLB with a .315 batting average with runners in scoring position. The next closest average is .281, leaving no doubt Cincinnati's lineup has featured the most clutch hitting in the young 2025 season. It is also worth noting that the Reds even held this title before their 24-run outburst.
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Now tied for the third-most runs scored in baseball this season with 120, the Reds have only gotten stronger. Veteran Austin Hays has returned healthy to the lineup after missing the first couple of weeks and has been on base in 15 of 32 at-bats. Leadoff hitter TJ Friedl has emerged following a slow start and is batting .350 with runners in scoring position.
Apr 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) runs toward first base after hitting a single against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The spark of it all is none other than Elly De La Cruz, who is off to an amazing start once his teammates get on base. In 31 at-bats with runners halfway to home plate, De La Cruz has nine hits, three home runs, three walks, and a .290 batting average. Currently, De La Cruz has 19 runs batted in with runners in scoring position, 10 more than the next Red, Austin Wynns.
Will the team continue to hit over .300 the rest of 2025 with runners at second and/or third? Probably not, as it has only been a 23-game sample size within a 162-game season. Nonetheless, it is hard not to be optimistic about the Reds long-term if the offense continues to produce runs once in scoring position, combined with their top-five pitching staff.
Related: Andrew Abbott's 11 Strikeouts Leads Reds Past Orioles
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