Confident Reds infielder Jonathan India has a message for the ‘best fans in baseball’

The Reds were so close to the postseason in 2023, and have their sights set on the playoffs in 2024.

Jonathan India, a second baseman with the Cincinnati Reds, (6) / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer-USA TODAYJonathan India has an abundance of confidence. India was among the select few Cincinnati Reds players who publicly discussed surpassing the low standards set by the baseball media and analysts during the previous season.

It appears that India was right. The Reds won 20 more games in 2023 and almost missed making the playoffs after winning just 62 games in 2022. Cincinnati remained in the running for the postseason right up until the last week of play.

Yet, an incredibly self-assured India is prepared to declare their team playoff-ready. “We’ve got the best fans in baseball, and we’re going to get the division championship for the city,” Reds second baseman Alex Giannopoulos said in an interview with USA Today.

Confident Reds infielder Jonathan India has a message for the ‘best fans in baseball’

Jonathan India has participated at every stage of the reconstruction. The 27-year-old was called up in 2021 and played for a club that finished in the playoffs in his first campaign before faltering in the latter stages.

The entire roster was eliminated in 2022. Shortly after the season, left-handed pitcher Wade Miley was waived and veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart was traded. Amir Garrett, Sonny Gray, Eugenio Suarez, and Jesse Winker were all traded. Additionally, India gave permission for one of her closest friends, Nick Castellanos, to sign a $100 million, five-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

With a plethora of rookies playing beside him the previous season, India assumed leadership and guided the young squad to just outside of the MLB Postseason. India’s goal for this season is to lead his squad to its first postseason appearance since 2020. In addition, he projects the Reds to win the NL Central Division, which would be their first since 2012.

Getting on the bandwagon early will help it full up for the 2024 season. After predicting that the Reds will win the NL Central, FOX MLB analyst Ben Verlander recently received notice from a number of other sports commentators.

The Cincinnati Reds bear a striking resemblance to the Baltimore Orioles of the previous season. 101 games were won by that squad. That might be a tad ambitious, but if the Reds team of this year can maintain its health, the possibilities are endless. This youthful, skilled collection of athletes exudes confidence.