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Cincinnati Reds: Jonathan India’s injury adds to horrific start

By Kevin Henry |
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jonathan India (6) walks up the plate for an at-bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.San Diego Padres At Cincinnati Reds April 27 0005
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jonathan India (6) walks up the plate for an at-bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.San Diego Padres At Cincinnati Reds April 27 0005

On their way to losing 18 of their first 21 games, the Cincinnati Reds have certainly struggled with offensive production (among other things). Their 66 runs scored heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies was the lowest among all National League teams.

One of the reasons for lack of production at the plate for the Cincinnati Reds was the absence of 2021 National League Rookie of the Year Jonathan India, who was placed on the injured list on April 19 (retroactive to April 16) with a right hamstring injury. Hopes were high when India returned to the lineup on April 26, and the 25-year-old India justified those hopes by piecing together a four-game hitting streak in his return, going 6-for-15 at the plate.

However, he was pulled from the lineup on Saturday in Denver with what was called “a recovery day.” On Sunday, the Reds suffered another gut punch when India returned to the injured list with that right hamstring.

Jonathan India returning to the injured list with a right hamstring issue is just another head-shaking moment in what has been a horrible 2022 season for the Cincinnati Reds

India, who has just 44 at-bats so far this season, is now officially back on the injured list and is eligible to return on May 10. For a team that entered Sunday hitting .204 as a squad (next-to-last in all of Major League Baseball), losing India is a high hurdle to overcome. At .295, India’s batting average is an outlier on a team where only he and Kyle Farmer (.253) are the only players hitting over .250 as the calendar turns to May.

So what comes next for the Reds at second base?

Matt Reynolds was scheduled to play his second game at second base for the Reds on Sunday in India’s absence. Alejo Lopez played second base primarily during India’s first stint on the injured list this season, but he was returned to Triple-A with India’s return earlier in the week. Brandon Drury slotted in at second base on Saturday night and will likely see time at the position moving forward.

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Losing India once again is another tough blow for a Reds team trying to find any glimmer of hope in what has been a very dark season so far in Cincinnati.

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