Reds May 2023 Games Thread

[CJD]

Matt McLain may just be on a hot streak to start his major league career, but my God is he electric. Currently hitting .380/.456/.600/1.056 and is averaging 4.79 pitches per at bat (for context, Joey Votto, patient hitter extraordinaire, is averaging 4.08 P/PA in his career)

50 ABs is a small sample size, but even when this level of production subsides, he still has great defense and base running ability as well. I think he could be our every day shortstop for the next 6 to 10 years.

Elly De La Cruz is similarly hot in the month of May, hitting .348/.459/.764/1.223 in 89 ABs in AAA Louisville, including 9 HR, 1 triple and 8 2B. The most exciting part may be that he's only struck out 22 times which, after you factor in his 18 BBs, 1 HBP and 1 Sac fly, is only a 20.1% strike out rate, which is almost 10 points better than his career average (prior to this month) of 29.9%, which was basically considered his only weakness as a prospect.

If McLain sticks at SS, that would mean EDLC would likely take over 3B (which he may be more suited for anyway) long term, kicking Senzel out into the outfield.

What a month of baseball!