NL Central: Revisiting February questions

Cincinnati Reds

Question: Will the Reds get 2023 Matt McLain or 2025 Matt McLain?

Answer: Spring training looked a lot like 2023 Matt McLain.

The Reds took some hits to their roster during spring training, including losing 26-year old ace Hunter Greene to surgery to remove bone chips, and losing Nick Lodolo to a blister. But the question that we started the spring with seems to have a much more optimistic answer 59 plate appearances later: will the real Matt McLain please stand up?

McLain burst onto the scene in 2023 with a .290/.357/.507 slashline, 16 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. He lost all of 2024 to shoulder surgery, and returned in 2025 to a much less compelling .220/.300/.343 slashline, with 15 home runs and...

Almost!

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