Reds OF Austin Hays accomplished rare feat in Tuesday's win over Mariners

It has been a tough start to the season for the Cincinnati Reds and manager Terry Francona. On Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners, outfielder Austin Hays wanted to change that in his first start with the team, which ended up being an 8-4 win for the Reds.

Making his team debut after a stint on the injured list, Hays, who signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Reds in free agency, exploded for four RBI, including a go-ahead three-run homer to center field in the fifth inning.

According to the team's X account, Hays became the third Reds player since 1920 to have four or more RBI in his team debut. He joins Mike Moustakas (2020) and Ryan Lavarnway (2019) on that list, per Yahoo Sports. Moustakas also hit four RBI while Lavarnway recorded six.

That type of performance is exactly what the Reds have needed after a slow start to the 2025 season. For a team that was expected to be much-improved from its 77-85 record in 2024 and a contender to at least win the National League Central, a 2-6 start to the season and three straight series losses was not how the Reds envisioned things going.

Despite the slow start, the Reds have rebounded by winning seven of their last nine games and getting back-to-back series wins, including a sweep of division-rival Pittsburgh.

Shortstop Elly De La Cruz has been phenomenal as always, tied for the most home runs on the team (three) and the team leader in RBI (18). Hays' sensational debut performance on Tuesday night put the spotlight elsewhere and showed that Cincinnati has the pieces in place to put a run together.

In his eighth season in the league, Hays has played for the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies before his current stint with the Reds. He has totaled 69 home runs and 252 RBI, along with a solid batting average of .262.

Hays is one of many Reds players who have had stints on the injured list this season, per MLB.com. He had been dealing with a strained left calf before his team debut on Tuesday. In addition to Hays, infielder Matt McLain (strained left hamstring) and RHP Alexis Diaz (left hamstring) were activated from the injured list, giving the Reds more depth as the season rolls on.

As sluggish as the start to the season has been, the debut of Hays and return of key players like McLain and Diaz should give the Reds some confidence to put some momentum together.

With a historic performance behind him, Hays has already shown what he can do. If he can be a reliable option for the Reds going forward and remain healthy, Cincinnati could be in for a bright future, especially considering how the 2025 season started.