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There might yet be more to JJ Bleday for the Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds may have uncovered hidden value in JJ Bleday, a 28-year-old outfielder acquired midseason for a modest $1.4 million deal. After a slow start that saw him demoted to Triple-A Louisville in April, Bleday’s production skyrocketed once he returned to the majors, posting a .301/.399/.655 line through June 1 with 10 home runs in 31 games.

His .304 BABIP during that stretch suggested his early struggles were more about bad luck than skill, and by May, he had earned NL Player of the Month honors while leading the National League in hitting. Despite his late-season slump—finishing with a .217 average, 1.2 bWAR, and a 105 OPS+—the Reds remain convinced his peak form proves he’s more than a one-season fluke.

The team’s roster construction, including lefty outfielders Will Benson and Nathaniel Lowe, initially sidelined him, but his brief dominance offers a tantalizing glimpse of the player the Miami Marlins drafted fourth overall in 2019.

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