Rece Hinds will be the Reds' next breakout star

The Cincinnati Reds currently sit two games under .500 as the team's bats have been inconsistent. The Reds' batting average is only four points above league average at .242 and holding a team OPS+ of 95, ranking near the bottom of the league

The Reds have scored the fifth-most runs (123), 11th in home runs (27), 12th in hits (194), and tenth-best OPS (.716). The lineup is around league average and has struggled to score in close games. 

Hinds will be a spark plug for the struggling lineup

Reece Hinds was drafted in the second round by the Reds in the 2019 draft out of IMG Academy. Hinds exhibited great power at IMG, leading the Reds to take a flier on him in the second round. 

Hinds' power hasn't disappointed so far. In the minors, he's accumulated 65 home runs, including a 22-home-run and 98-RBI season in 2023 with the Double-A affiliate Lookouts. 

Even with his power, he whiffs a lot with a 38% rate in Triple-A in 2024. His brief stint with the Reds last season saw flashes of potential as he slashed .261 with five home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .717 slugging percentage in 51 at-bats. 

This season with the Louisville Bats, Hinds is slashing .238 average with a team-leading 19 RBIs and ten stolen bases, and tied for the most home runs (4). In 80 at-bats, he has a .319 BABIP and eight extra-base hits. 

Hinds exhibits great power and makes fantastic plays in the outfield, with a 2.2 range rating and an ultimate zone rating per 150 games of 11.3.