Amidst struggling stars and injury woes, this sure-handed outfielder is sparking wins with clutch hitting and flawless defense, cementing his future as a cornerstone in Cincinnati’s lineup.
The Cincinnati Reds are searching for reliable offense this season. Finding players to complement Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz has been much harder than many people initially thought. JJ Bleday has been decent, providing good power but not hitting for average as well as he did from March to June. Spencer Steer has been consistent but lacks the true power bat the Reds have been looking for, and he's in the midst of a lengthy IL stint.
Eugenio Suarez and Matt McLain have been pretty big disappointments, with Suarez having an OPS of .707 and McLain under .700 at .638.
However, a much more unlikely candidate has established himself as an everyday player for the Reds, and someone who fans should expect to see on the field consistently over the next couple of seasons. His name is Dane Myers.
He had a big day on Monday in the doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. The high-effort, reliable glove that isn’t known for power hit two home runs in two games, one tying the game at five when the Reds were down to their final out. It opened the door for De La Cruz to hit the first walk-off of his career with a double to left field, scoring Tyler Stephenson.
Myers is hitting .259 with five home runs, 20 runs batted in, and a .729 OPS on the season. That OPS ranks sixth on the Reds roster with a minimum of 150 at-bats, while his average is second best on the team behind only Elly De La Cruz in that same sample size (Blake Dunn is hitting .282 in 142 at-bats).
The more shocking stat? Cincinnati is 52-37 in games Myers has appeared in, and 25-17 in games that he’s started. While he isn’t the most electrifying player on the roster by any means, he has proven to be a quietly impactful player while also not committing any errors in the 80 games he’s played in center field for the Reds this season.
The Reds had a bit of a revolving door in center field when Myers was on the IL earlier this season, with TJ Friedl, and even Spencer Steer making starts in center field, much to the dismay of Reds fans.
Given the lack of depth at the center field spot on both the big-league roster and in the Reds' minor leagues, it really makes sense for the Reds to prioritize striking a deal with Myers, as he is arbitration-eligible for the next three seasons. Cincinnati’s #14-ranked prospect Carlos Jorge is the most league-ready center field candidate.
