Reds making 'gritty' identity their own in '23

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- The Reds may still be viewed as a rebuilding club this season, but they've already developed something that was missing during the 100-loss season of 2022.

An identity.

"Our team is so gritty," said second baseman Jonathan India, repeating a term he has used often before.

On Tuesday during a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Padres in San Diego, India mentioned that one of the umpires took a moment to praise the effort the club has shown in 2023.

"In the second inning, he came up to me and said, ‘I love watching your team play,'" India recalled. "That’s the team that we are. We don’t stop fighting. We’re a gritty team. We’ll fight with anyone, and we’ll fight to the end."

The Reds have backed up that sentiment multiple times this season, but especially in some recent games. Here are a few examples:

• Five of their last seven wins have come in their final at-bat.

• During the first two wins of their three-game series sweep over the Rangers on April 24-26, the Reds scored 14 runs without hitting a home run. In the third game, Nick Senzel hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.

• In Monday's loss, Xander Bogaerts flied out to Senzel in deep center field. Juan Soto, who was running from first base, had to scramble back. Senzel made a perfect relay throw to India, who threw to Spencer Steer at first base just in time for the double play.

• In Wednesday's loss, as Senzel grounded out, Jake Fraley hustled from first base to third base safely to create a scoring opportunity. It didn't pan out there, but it encapsulates the style the club is seeking.

"It carries over, not only in baserunning but everything else you do," manager David Bell said. "It creates the attitude and environment that we’re looking for. I really believe it’s a big part of who this team is. There’s a lot to feel good about. Our bullpen has been outstanding. Defense and the aggressive baserunning and the way we’re grinding out at-bats."

• India showed some hustle as well during Tuesday's win. On TJ Friedl's bloop single to Soto in left field, India never stopped running and reached third base.

"We’re always looking for the extra 90 feet because we’re going to manufacture runs in every single way possible," Friedl said. "We’re not going to wait for someone to hit a home run. We don’t have the big sluggers like some of these other teams have, but we’re going to get an extra 90 feet every way we can -- whether it’s a ball in the dirt, stealing a base, taking an extra base on a line drive."

Bell has frequently stressed to the players about fighting for every inch they can and doing the little things. India loves that style.

“We play the game hard. We know how to play the game right," India said. "It’s the little things that matter for our team because that’s how we win."