'A feeling I had': Motivated India ROY finalist

CINCINNATI -- The year began with Jonathan India in Reds Minor League camp at Spring Training. Then India played his way into big league camp and onto the Reds’ Opening Day roster.

It was a breakout 2021 season for the Reds’ second baseman after that. Therefore, it’s no surprise that India on Monday was named a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

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“It means a lot,” said India. “I told everyone at the beginning of the year ... that was my only goal, as a personal goal. So it’s pretty cool to be in the position where I envisioned myself. It means a lot, for sure.”

Determined by voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the NL Rookie of the Year winner will be announced during a 6 p.m. ET MLB Network special on Nov. 15. India’s chances of taking home the trophy are strong.

“I have a firsthand view of Jonathan every day playing on the field, in the clubhouse, going about his work. I’ve gotten to know him well. I’m an expert on Jonathan,” Reds manager David Bell said at season’s end. “I can’t imagine someone being more deserving than Jonathan. He’s done everything. He’s done everything in his power to make our team better, and he has done that. He’s personally had just a great season, great accomplishments, but he’s just simply made us a much better team by being in our lineup every day, and I think that’s what it is all about."

India, 24, batted .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs in 150 games as a key contributor for Cincinnati as it challenged for a postseason berth. He proved his durability as well while leading the NL in being hit by pitches 23 times. He also led the Reds with 12 steals, 98 runs and 150 games played.

Among rookies, India topped the Major Leagues in games, on-base percentage, doubles (34), walks (71) and runs scored, while ranking second with an .835 OPS.

And in a sign of how important his bat was to the club, India hit .318 with a .974 OPS and 13 homers in Reds wins compared to .214 with a .679 OPS and eight homers in team losses.

Before the season started, India told others his goal was to be Rookie of the Year.

“It's just a feeling I had at the beginning of the year, that's why I want it,” India said on Oct 2. “I remember that feeling, too. ‘It's in me. I have a feeling I'm going to win this. I'm going to have a good year.’ The thing was, I knew I was going to go through a rough patch. I knew I was going to be in the dirt and not where I want to be at one point in the year. But then I knew I was going to get out of it, I knew where I was going to be. So, yeah, it was definitely a type of motivation to set that goal and help my team win as well.”

India carried his strong spring into the regular season’s first week, batting .476 with 10 RBIs, before he started slumping. By May, he started losing playing time at second base to Nick Senzel and others and appeared in danger of a demotion to Triple-A.

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“I came out there early, did what I had to do,” said India, the fifth overall selection by the Reds in the 2018 MLB Draft. “I acted like I was still starting. I didn't take it like, 'I'm on the bench today.' It was another day in the office. I did what I had to do and made the most of it. It worked out for me.”

Injuries to both Senzel and Mike Moustakas kept India on the roster and lineup. On June 5, with the club in need of an offensive boost, Bell moved India to the leadoff spot. From there, everything started clicking. He had a .382 OBP in 105 games with 17 homers and 82 runs.

The success coincided with a hitting adjustment India made to get into a better rhythm at the plate.

“When he went through the struggles, he was getting close to being sent down. He made a swing change. He dropped the leg kick and went with the toe-tap,” Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer said. “And they put him in the leadoff spot and he took off. Man, most guys would just crumble. They would just crumble, a rookie doing that. He came back and fought.”

The last NL Rookie of the Year from the Reds was reliever Scott Williamson in 1999. Third baseman Chris Sabo was the club’s last position player to win the honor, in 1988. Pete Rose was the last regular second baseman from Cincinnati to win the award, in 1963.

“It'll be an honor to win, it'll be a dream come true. But at the end of the day, it's out of my hands,” India said on Oct. 2. “I played well enough, of course, but it's not up to me. I hope I do win it.”