Reds’ Austin Hays Making Case For Comeback Player Of The Year

Austin Hays had the most difficult season of his career last year.

A year after playing in his first All-Star Game, the outfielder was hampered for most of 2024 by a kidney infection. It reached the point where he was placed on the injured list for 19 days in September by the Philadelphia Phillies, who had acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade on July 26.

“It was a very challenging year for me and my family,” Hays said. “There was a lot of change for us with the trade and then physically what I dealt with and how that affected me mentally too. Kidney problems are really tough on your mind as well.”

Hays hit .255/.316/.396 with five home runs in 85 games. That was a comedown for a player who hit 22 home runs for the Orioles in 2021 then went deep 16 times in 2022 and 2023.

The Phillies declined to offer Hays a contract last November, letting him become a free agent. The Cincinnati Reds signed Hays to a one-year, $5-million contract on Jan. 30.

Reds Felt Austin Hays Signing Had Upside

It seemed like a bit of a gamble by the Reds. However, the 29-year-old Hays has been one of the best bargains in MLB this year and is positioning himself to possibly win the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Through 24 games, Hays is hitting .319/.364/.582 with six home runs and 19 RBI. He has made a big impression on Reds first-year manager Terry Francona in a rather small sample size.

“It’s just not his hitting,” Francona said. “It’s his presence. It’s his baserunning. It’s his professionalism. He’s a guy who can hit in the middle of the order and be very productive. We love him.”

Hays has had two injured list stints this season. He sustained a strained right calf during spring training and missed the first 2 ½ weeks of the season. Hays was also shelved for 10 days earlier this month with a strained left hamstring.

The Reds have been admittedly cautious with Hays and the leg issues have been minor. However, Hays is no longer curtailed by his kidney infection.

Austin Hays Healthy After Rough 2024 Season

There were some days last season, especially after the trade, when it was a struggle for Hays to do even basic tasks.

“Just to know I am myself this year and to just be able to play with energy again feels really good,” Hays said. “It wasn’t just the physical part of the game last year. My kidneys also took away some of my mental energy. It’s hard to gameplan for a pitcher and prepare for a game when you’re worrying about your health. So, it’s very gratifying to be myself again.”

Hays developed into a solid player during his seven seasons with the Orioles. Yet his drop off last season left some inside baseball wondering if Hays had entered the decline phase of his career.

Hays understood the questions surrounding him. However, he was confident he could be a productive big-league player again.

“I’m only 29 years old. I have a lot of experience in this league from just being an everyday guy,” Hays said. “I’ve had really good stretches against right-handers and I’ve done a good job against lefties my whole career.

“So, knowing if I could get back physically to where I was before dealing with all the stuff I dealt with last year, I had a ton of confidence in myself for this season. I worked really hard to get my strength back and just get my body in shape to be able to do what I’m doing right now.”

Austin Hays Important Part Of Reds Lineup

Hays is a key cog for a streaky Reds team that is 25-25 after 50 games following Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Hays has been consistent in an inconsistent season in which the Reds lost seven of 10 games to start the season then won six of seven, lost five of seven, won five in a row, lost 11 of 15 before another five-game winning streak ended Tuesday.

The Reds and Hays are doing everything they can to ensure he stays in the lineup on a regular basis.

“When we signed him, I just told him that he’s got to communicate and when he needs a day off, he has to tell us,” Francona said. “We miss him when he’s not in the lineup, but we know we’ve got to keep him healthy, and he knows he needs to stay healthy.

“He’s been honest and done a good job of taking care of himself,” Francona added in referring to Austin Hays, “We can’t have him at 80 percent with the ways he plays. He plays the game hard, so he’s at his best at 100 percent.”