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3 reasons the Reds will win the NL Central, 1 weakness that could bite them

By Zach Pressnell

Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds acknowledges the crowd before his first at bat of the season in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on June 19, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds acknowledges the crowd before his first at bat of the season in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on June 19, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Elly De La Cruz, Reds
Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/Syndication: The Enquirer /

3. The youth movement could lead the Reds to the NL Central title

The Reds wouldn’t be anywhere close to where they’re at without the growth and production of their young stars. When a team is calling up prospects and debuting rookies, they can only hope that these players will find a home in the MLB after a while. A lot of prospects never make it or fizzle out after a week or two of struggles. That is far from the truth in Cincinnati.

The youth movement didn’t truly begin this year. A few years ago, the Reds saw Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson debut in the same season. Both of these players still play crucial roles in the 2023 team. Last season, the Reds debuted all three of their top three starting pitchers, Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo, and Hunter Greene. When healthy, each of these players will be in the rotation. Last season was also the rookie year for their closer, Alexis Diaz.

This season’s youth movement has completely pushed the team over the top. Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and Andrew Abbott have all shown up and shown out. These four players are crucial to the success of the team now and in the future. To have all four prospects performing at the same time in the same magnitude of success is unimaginable. This young core could lead the Reds to multiple division titles.

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