Hays proving to be the spark the Reds' offense needed

DENVER – If the Reds’ offense went into the first full month of the season like a lamb, it’s going out of April like a lion. Questions about run support and lack of production have faded. The addition of Austin Hays is a big reason.

Two home runs by Hays gave the Reds two leads on Saturday, including the one that gave them the final go-ahead run during a 6-4 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field.

"We’ve been a different team since he’s been back," Reds manager Terry Francona said.

It was a 3-3 game in the top of the sixth inning when Hays led off by driving Antonio Senzatela's 3-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field.

Hays also provided Cincinnati with a 3-2 lead in the fourth when he hit Senzatela's 2-1 pitch to left field for a leadoff homer.

Because of a left calf strain that happened at the end of Spring Training, Hays opened this season on the injured list and didn't debut until April 15. In 11 games since his activation, he is batting .386 (17-for-44) with five homers and 11 RBIs.

Hays is the first player in Reds history to record at least 15 hits, five homers and 10 RBIs in his first 11 games. Not a bad early return for a free agent who was signed to a one-year, $5 million contract on Jan. 30.

“I think it just starts physically," said Hays, who has seven multihomer games for his career. "When you feel good physically, there’s a level of confidence that goes into that, where you know you can drive the ball. You know you can hit the ball hard. You don’t necessarily have to try to pull the ball to hit a home run. You know you’re feeling good and strong enough to drive the ball out of the ballpark to center field or right-center field.”

Without Hays, Cincinnati's run production was often scarce – including a 35-inning scoreless streak and three consecutive 1-0 losses. Since he joined the lineup, it has had six games when it has scored six or more runs, including last Sunday's 24-2 romp at Baltimore.

Hays is also hitting cleanup most of the time behind No. 3 hitter Elly De La Cruz. The Reds' shortstop extended his hitting streak to 10 games with two singles.

“You’ve got to think twice, pitching to De La Cruz knowing that Hays is behind him because he’s dangerous," Francona said.

Another big producer lately, Noelvi Marte, continued his hot stretch with a two-run homer to left field in the second inning that gave the Reds their first lead, 2-0. In his past seven games – all on the road – Marte has three homers and 12 RBIs.

In a bounceback from a rough outing last Saturday at Baltimore, Reds starter Hunter Greene provided a quality start against Colorado. Over his six innings, he allowed three runs and seven hits without a walk while striking out eight. Twice, Greene lost his leads by allowing home runs and Hays picked him up.

“Hays was fantastic today. He came to me after his first home run, he was like, ‘I got the lead for you, man.’ Then he came through again," Greene said.

Two add-on runs came in the ninth inning because of some great efforts. After being down in the count, 0-2, De La Cruz worked an 11-pitch at-bat and delivered an RBI single through the right side for his second hit of the game. Spencer Steer also hustled on a grounder to third base for a two-out RBI infield single.

"We hit some balls OK. We didn’t hit some balls OK, but we hit them, you know? We didn’t strike out," Francona said. "Steer got down the line on that ball. We’ll take every run we can get.”

A 2023 All-Star for the Orioles, Hays saw his production dip last season. A left calf strain also felled him early, plus he dealt with other issues – including a kidney infection after being traded to the Phillies. He has already equaled his homer total for all of last season, when he played in 85 games.

“It was hard for me last year," Hays said. "I dealt with some soft tissue stuff early. I was sick at the end of camp.

“The thing that comes with that is being in and out of the lineup and having to take a few days off of not hitting. You’re trying to treat everything. And when you’re playing, you’re like, ‘Is this OK?’ You’re trying to feel it out if you’re back yet.”

There has been no such issue in 2025 for Hays. He's definitely back.