When teams broke camp this year, Josh Reddick was still standing in the unemployment line. Never an All-Star, the former World Series Champion was coming off arguably a disappointing tenure with the Houston Astros. At 34 years of age, and no prospects when the season began, we were left wondering if we had seen the last of this outfielder.
In an offseason where two teams from the National League West Division spent money as if they have an endless supply (Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres), the Arizona Diamondbacks knew they would have a hard time competing. Throw in the upstart San Francisco Giants (who are currently leading the division) and the Diamondbacks are stuck battling the Colorado Rockies to stay out of the basement in the West.
Veteran outfielder Josh Reddick has given the Arizona Diamondbacks a boost with his early season play.
In what began as a minor league contract, Reddick has made his way to the big club and done nothing but hit during his time in the desert. His productive play will keep him in the lineup to make the Diamondbacks look competitive through the dog days of summer. If Reddick can keep up the consistent hitting, he’ll find himself on a contending team as the calendar turns from July to August. He won’t be a highly sought after trade piece, though will make a great fourth outfielder who comes with lots of postseason experience when playoff time rolls around.
Reddick’s most recent heroics involved a walk-off double, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat at the hands of the New York Mets.
An all-around happy day in downtown Phoenix. #Dbacks have their first walk-off win of the season. Josh Reddick has been phenomenal. https://t.co/0uzX2n7xHr
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) June 2, 2021
Reddick has multi-hit games in his last four starts and has banged out seven doubles of the 17 knocks he has collected this year. Every rebuilding team needs a guy or two like Reddick to get them through the doldrums of a 162 game season.
Overlooked by every other team in the league, Reddick is on a revenge tour of sorts. Maybe this is just a hot streak, maybe he’ll keep hitting all season, probably you’ll see him playing meaningful baseball games for another team come October.