The National League Central division looks to be quite competitive this season as all five teams are playing over .500 baseball through their first 21 games.
A glance at the standings shows the Cincinnati Reds near the top thanks to consistent performances from numerous players. One of the players who is looking to get on track at the Major League level is Rece Hinds.
The Rightfielder was recalled from Triple-A, Louisville, on April 14 and knows that this is a very competitive ball club.
“Our team is really good, really talented. When they put this thing together, I think we’re going to go a long way,” Hinds told MLBbro during spring training.
He had a batting average of .354 with five bro bombs and 16 RBI through the first thirteen games of the Triple-A season.
Hinds was selected in the second round, 49th overall. by the Reds in the 2019 draft as a third baseman. Like most players in that draft class, his development was affected by COVID, and he didn’t play again until 2021. That was a challenging season for him as he adjusted to his first full season of professional baseball and overcame a torn meniscus.
At the beginning of the 2022 season, the organization made the decision to move him to the outfield, and he had a breakout year in 2023 in which he connected for 23 home runs and drove home 98 runs.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned is finding out exactly who I was,” the 25-year-old said about his growth within the organization. “The word power has always been attached to my name, and I took that as the only type of player I am, but the last couple of years I’ve tapped into my full capabilities.”
Hinds reflected on his 85 minor league home runs, whilst also having three straight seasons of at least 20 stolen bases. Hinds made his Major League debut on July 8, 2024, and homered in five of his first six games.
It’s common for top-notch retired Major Leaguers to assist younger players during spring training. Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and 17-year veteran Eric Davis enjoy spending time in Goodyear, Arizona, the spring home of the Reds, sharing their knowledge and educating the younger players.
“It’s awesome to have players of that caliber and to be able to pick their brains, and they look like us,” Hinds acknowledged, having two former standout players who are black and in camp. “Eric Davis is like my mentor, he’s unc. I talk to him every single day.”
Hinds, a Florida native, had great weather and was able to put himself in a very good situation.
“A lot of us played multiple sports, but I enjoyed the love of this competition and the difficulty of this sport,” he explained why he chose the baseball path over the others. “The camaraderie and it being a team game is why I fell in love with this sport.
“I didn’t really have a team, I grew up in a small town in the Florida panhandle,” the Pineville native stated. “The closest team was the Atlanta Braves, and I think I went to one game. I didn’t have a favorite player; I was actually more of a football fan.”
