When spring camp began in Goodyear, Arizona one year ago, there were precious few ‘knowns’ around the Cincinnati Reds lineup.
Matt McLain and Will Benson had been bonkers good for the club the prior season.
Elly De La Cruz flashed ability, but struggled mightily more often than not.
TJ Friedl had posted a ~4 WAR season and looked like one of the better CF options in all of baseball.
Jake Fraley and Stu Fairchild formed a potent 20 dinger platoon, Spencer Steer looked like a bona fide offensive star, and the power potential of Christian Encarnacion-Strand had 40 homer predictions looming for the heir apparent at 1B.