The Cincinnati Reds didn’t have a better option to bat fourth heading into the 2018 season. With the departure of shortstop Zack Cozart to the Los Angeles Angels, there was a hole in the Reds’ line-up in the second spot. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez moved up to bat second, leaving a hole at clean-up hitter.
Scooter Gennett made the most sense to bat behind first baseman Joey Votto. While his offensive explosion last year may have contained an unsustainable level of power, he has proven that he can get on base. Behind Votto that is a necessary trait.