'Calm' Candelario puts slump in rearview, meets moment

CINCINNATI -- It was a level, even-keeled personality that helped Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario escape a hitting funk with a new team. That same calm vibe and veteran experience also enabled Candelario to meet the moment before a sold-out crowd and big atmosphere on Wednesday.

Candelario delivered the first multi-homer game of his tenure with the Reds. His solo home run and a three-run homer provided all the scoring Cincinnati needed for a 4-2 victory over the Guardians before 42,427 fans at Great American Ball Park.

“It helps a lot," said Candelario of his experience. "It helps you calm down and reminds you that you’ve done it.”

Even though the Reds were already projected to have a crowded infield picture, they made Candelario their biggest offseason signing in December with his three-year, $45 million contract.

The club valued his veteran switch-hitting bat for a young lineup but also Candelario's positive character.

“For our team, we really looked into that. It was important to our team," Reds manager David Bell said. "Everyone we talked to about Jeimer had nothing but positive things to say. Very important, not only the character in the clubhouse but being a hitter, the stability he provides our lineup.”

Candelario's time with the Reds started in shaky fashion. By April 28, he was batting .159 with two homers after he had two games at Texas where he went 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts.

Was it frustrating to struggle? Of course. But Candelario never let the first-month slump get him down.

“Everything started in the mind. It comes into the body," he said. "You want to be as calm as you want to be, as positive as you want to be. You want good vibes. But to create that, you have to have a routine. You have to be solid with that routine. That routine will bring you your confidence and everything you need to have success. If you can hit, you’re going to hit. You just have to be patient."

In the 37 games since the hitting debacle vs. the Rangers, Candelario is batting .292 with nine homers and 23 RBIs.

“Super level. Never too high, never too low," catcher Tyler Stephenson said. "He comes here every day super positive. He’s in there working. He’s a huge impact. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

It was an Elly De La Cruz bobblehead night that helped draw the boffo box office for a playoff-like atmosphere, a regular season weekday attendance record for the Reds. But it was Candelario who wound up being the big show.

Candelario gave the Reds a 1-0 first-inning lead against Tanner Bibee when he hit a two-out homer to right-center field. For a while, it seemed like that was all Cincinnati would muster against Bibee. After that homer, he retired the next 13 of 14 batters without surrendering a hit.

Cleveland took a 2-1 lead against Nick Lodolo in the fourth inning before the Reds built some momentum against Bibee in the bottom of the sixth. Will Benson led off with a single to right field, followed by TJ Friedl's single to left field.

With one out and a 3-2 count, Candelario stayed alive against Bibee with a foul ball on an outside fastball. The next pitch was a changeup at the bottom of the strike zone. Candelario was out in front of it and lifted the ball for a drive to right field that put Cincinnati ahead.

“[Bibee] was throwing pretty good pitches," Candelario said. "He was locating his fastball for sure. That pitch outside, I said, ‘That’s a ball. It should be a walk. Keep grinding, keep staying back. If it’s in the strike zone, put the barrel on the ball please.’ Thank God I did that.”

It was Candelario's fifth multi-homer game of his career and first since July 25, 2022, for the Tigers vs. the Padres. His .779 OPS leads the club and he's tied for the team lead with 11 homers and 15 doubles.

"Really hard," Bibee said of dueling Candelario. "The guy that’s hard to pitch to is the guy that’s kind of just barely touching everything and then he can get a big one like that. I don’t necessarily think that pitch was a mistake. That was a good pitch. He just put a good swing on it.”

As far as feeling good at the plate, Candelario felt he was only getting there -- even after a night like Wednesday. He wants to keep it going.

"When a month goes that way or two weeks go that way, that’s what I’m looking for," Candelario said. "As a switch-hitter, it takes a lot of reps, a lot of time, a lot of dedication. I never take anything for granted.”