Switch-hitting corner infielder Jeimer Candelario sat out his second game in a row when the Reds played the Miami Marlins on Monday.
The 31-year-old is lost at the plate over the first 24 games in which he’s played in 16 of them. He has just nine hits in 69 at-bats with two doubles and two home runs. On the flip side, Candelario struck out 25 times.
His last home run snapped a 0-for-18 slump.
“He is ahead of the breaking ball and behind on the fastball. That’s not a good place to be,” manager Terry Francona.
After his home run helped defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 11th after four hitless games, Candelario was confident.
“I feel like I’ve got my timing back,” Candelario said.
The next 18 at-bats said otherwise. He homered in the Reds’ 8-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night and hit a double in four at-bats on Saturday. He’s been on the bench since.
Candelario reported to Goodyear, Ariz., in great shape, knowing he had to be a better fielder at third base. That shows, but his struggles to hit have everyone guessing.
At this point in 2024, which covered 17 games, Candelario was hitting .206 with two home runs. He had 13 hits in 63 at-bats with 22 strikeouts.
From May 8 through the end of June, Candelario hit .278 with 11 doubles, a triple, and 11 home runs. He finished with a .227 average with 23 doubles, two triples, and 20 home runs. He broke his big toe on August 19 and was placed on the Injured List for the rest of the season.
Candelario has 190 career doubles. He tied for the American League and Major League lead with 42 doubles in 2021.
When he signed his three-year contract with the Reds on December 11, 2023, president of baseball operations Nick Krall said, "At Great American Ball Park, some of those doubles will be home runs.”
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