Cincinnati Reds: JJ Bleday making most of the opportunity he got in unsettled Reds' outfield
May 10—CHICAGO — For the first month of the season, a starting spot in the Cincinnati Reds' outfield was like a revolving door. Between Noelvi Marte, Rece Hinds and Will Benson, the Reds couldn't find a solution. Now, Terry Francona believes that JJ Bleday could be a part of the answer.
"I think Bleday is kind of trying to," Francona said. "He has done about as much as you can ask. " Bleday has still only been on the roster for a couple of weeks, but Francona is showing confidence in Bleday as he hits second in the order.
Bleday sticking there would be a significant development. The hope entering the season was that Marte would lock down a starting spot. He had very encouraging stretches in 2025, showing some All-Star potential.
But he really struggled last September, and those struggles carried over into 2026. Marte struggled finding the right pitches to swing at, and he wasn't productive in MLB. After opening the year as the Reds' right fielder, he was optioned to Triple-A in the middle of April.
Since then, Marte has been hitting at an extremely productive level in Triple-A. But there's more to evaluate that just his counting stats at that level. "It's more about the process," Reds general manager Brad Meador said.