Why Jonathan India has a fresh perspective this Cincinnati Reds season
For Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India, this spring could have been full of pitfalls and trap doors.
He learned two new positions, made a swing change and prepared to have a new role on the Reds in 2024. As India did all of that, he learned something about himself.
“This spring freed me up a lot as a player,” India said. “It gave me confidence. It freed me up to just be an athlete. I didn’t expect it. I expected learning new positions to make my hitting harder because I was focusing on that. But it actually helped me hit. I don’t know how to describe it.”
India’s perspective has changed a lot over the last 12 months. He started the 2023 season as the Reds’ leadoff hitter and second baseman of the future. In 2024, he started out spring training as a utility player.
Because of the Reds’ new additions, India’s role had changed so much that he thought the Reds were going to trade him. While the Reds valued India all along, his presence carries a lot more significance now that the Reds will start the year with TJ Friedl and Matt McLain on the injured list and Noelvi Marte under suspension.
What position will Jonathan India play for the Cincinnati Reds?
The expectation is India will begin this year in a familiar role at second base. But India puts less stock into roles and those types of things than he used to.
“It’s a new year for me,” India said. “I’m a father now. It’s a different lifestyle. I’m doing this for a lot more now. I’m out here. I do my job and enjoy the game with my teammates. Then I get to go home and be a father. There’s nothing better than that.”
India had a daughter during the offseason, and he said the experience of being a dad has completely changed his perspective.
India said fatherhood gives him more structure and more discipline. It’s helped him improve his time management, and it’s led to him living on more of a set schedule.
Jonathan India learned new positions for the Cincinnati Reds
This spring, Reds manager David Bell has seen India look refreshed.
“There’s so much going really well for him in his life and his career,” Bell said. “He’s set up for this to be a stepping stone to a new beginning in some ways. A new world for him and his career. Who knows what the possibilities are?”
At the start of spring training, as India started learning how to play first base and left field, Bell said the fair thing to do would be to expect mistakes from India. For his entire life, India had only played second base and third base.
During spring training games, India only dropped one pop fly in left field. Other than that, his experience at two new positions has been better than anticipated. He has particularly impressed at first base, making diving stops, scooping difficult throws and looking like he has played that position for a while.
“I can relate to the situation he’s in because I was in the same spot last year,” Reds outfielder Spencer Steer said. “What he’s doing speaks to the volume of his character. He’s willing to move around the diamond and do what this team is asking of him. He’s an impressive player, obviously and is one of the best guys we’ve got. I’m expecting big things out of him this year.”
Jonathan India's future with the Cincinnati Reds
At one point this spring, India went an entire month without taking any reps at second base. That changed when McLain suffered a shoulder injury. Now, he’ll play a lot more at his favorite position.
It doesn’t really matter to him that his role has changed so much already. It doesn’t really matter that he heard all offseason that he couldn’t play second base and that now he’s back at that position.
“As long as I’m in the lineup every day, I’m good,” India said.
“He was an infielder who learned the outfield and now is coming back to the infield again,” Reds outfielder Will Benson said. “That’s a whirlwind. He’s handling everything with grace and with poise, and he’s his same self swinging the bat.”
Even during the offseason, when the plan was for India to play first base and left field, the Reds had confidence in what he brought to the table. In December, when India was worried he’d be traded, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told him, “We don’t want to trade you. That’s just talk.”
Because of his ability to work quality at-bats and his presence on a young roster, the Reds have planned on India being a big part of the team in 2024.
“He brings swagger, energy, tenacity and leadership,” Benson said. “As a team, we feed off that. It’s something you can just feel as he plays.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jonathan India new approach for Cincinnati Reds 2024 MLB season
