Reds’ 2025 Regular Season Review

Despite the way the season ended up, this Reds team got off to a slow start. In March, they won two and lost two; in April, they won 14 and lost 13, and in May, they won 13 and lost 15. This gives them a record through the first three months of 29-30. 

At this point in the season, optimism was low, and many fans were echoing sentiments from seasons prior, but with Terry Francona in their crosshairs rather than David Bell. However, Cincinnati would turn it around, only posting a losing record in one of the remaining months (12-15 in August), and was able to capitalize on momentum down the stretch. 

It wasn’t just their play that got them there, however, as the team made multiple moves throughout the season to bring new faces in.

Calling Up Consistency 

For this era of Reds’ baseball, call-ups have been a major factor in their success. As has been pointed out a lot since the Mets helped usher Cincinnati into the postseason, the Reds have a significantly lower payroll than a lot of other (particularly playoff) teams.

This means calling up the right players at the right time is crucial, and they did not disappoint. This season, they called up Chase Burns and Sal Stewart, who both were almost immediately effective. 

Burns was activated at a time when pitching was desperately needed, and showed in his first outing that he would be difficult for opponents. Stewart was called up when the team was lacking power and has become one of the most electric players on the roster. 

Now, with Burns in the bullpen and Stewart looking much more comfortable, they’re poised to each have a big impact on how the Reds’ postseason will play out. For a team that can’t go out and buy top-tier slingers or sluggers, successful call-ups are essentially necessary to see the level of success Cincinnati is aiming for. 

Tyler Stephenson being the longest-tenured Red is appropriate, as back in 2021, he (along with Rookie-Of-The-Year Jonathan India) kicked off this succession of successful prospect call-ups. Since then, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, and, of course, Elly De La Cruz (among others) all serve as examples of prospects playing out exceptionally. 

Reds Trading Up

Cincinnati also played the trade deadline extremely well. While big names like Eugenio Suarez and Steven Kwan dominated Reds media as potential targets, the organization instead opted to go out and grab Ke’Bryan Hayes, Miguel Andujar, and Zack Littell.

Hayes, while not the slugger the fans were expecting, is arguably the best defensive third baseman in baseball and has been a major boost on that side of the field. Andujar, rather, brought the offensive firepower, posting a .359 average, 17 RBI, and four home runs as a Red.

Littell finished his regular season in Cincinnati with a 4.39 ERA and 41 strikeouts, while giving up 11 walks and 46 hits. His value to this team isn’t necessarily that of an ace, but that of an anchor. 

With as many injuries as this Reds’ pitching staff has endured this year, having a solid arm like Littell to round out the starting rotation is a major help. This allows guys like Burns (and as of last night, Lodolo) to come out of the bullpen for a nasty combination for opponents. 

Baseball is often won or lost in the margins, and this is only amplified in the postseason. The moves that Cincinnati made at the deadline this season proved they had this in mind as they addressed their issues and set themselves up nicely for the playoffs.

Never Say Die

Proving themselves to be the MLB’s version of the Goonies, this Reds team was never willing to accept their season coming to an end in September. At the start of June, Cincinnati found itself second to last in the NLC with a record of 29-31, while the Mets were sitting atop the NLE at 37-22. 

Sure, this utter collapse by a New York team with a historically high payroll will be dissected as maybe the most disappointing season in MLB history. However, this couldn’t have happened if the Reds hadn’t played their part in not losing sight of October.

Factors like beating the Mets 4-2 on the season, sweeping the Chicago Cubs, and winning the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers all proved to be vital to making the playoffs. This team routinely came up big down the stretch when it mattered most and seemed to will their way into the postseason over a juggernaut of an opponent. 

End Of My Reds Rant 

Although it was a rollercoaster of a season that got off to a slow start, Cincinnati is in the postseason. Their timely promotions, moves made at the trade deadline, and unwillingness to accept that their season was over all contributed to the position they’re now in. 

It took all the stars aligning, everything breaking the Reds’ way, and a little more, but the regular season has now come to a close, with Cincinnati holding the final NL wild card spot. Their three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starts this Tuesday at 9:10 pm, where they’ll look to escape LA  with a ticket to the NLDS to face the Philadelphia Phillies.