Key Cincinnati Reds Storylines to Follow Down the Stretch of 2024 Season

It's been a frustrating season for the Reds.

Greg Kuffner | Sep 9, 2024

Sep 4, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) runs to third on a sacrifice ground out hit by catcher Tyler Stephenson (not pictured) in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

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Cincinnati Reds

It's been a tough season for the Cincinnati Reds. After coming up just short of making the playoffs in 2023, a lot of fans thought the Reds would be in contention to win the division in 2024 and, at worst, get a Wild Card spot.

With the playoffs basically out of reach, here is what we are watching as the season winds down:

1. Elly De La Cruz

Sep 6, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) watches his two run home run against the New York Mets during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Elly De La Cruz has been the Reds' best player during the 2024 season at just 22 years of age. He leads the team with an OPS of .820. He leads Major League Baseball with 62 stolen bases and became just the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 20 home runs and steal 60 bases in the same season.

Anytime De La Cruz is playing, I am tuning in. He is one of the most electrifying players in all of baseball and will be a cornerstone piece for the Reds for years to come.

Will he get to 70 stolen bases? Time will tell.

2. Noelvi Marte

Aug 25, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte (16) runs the bases against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Noelvi Marte was the Reds' top prospect in 2023. He came up last year and hit .316 over 35 games. With that came big expectations from Reds fans. Marte's season got off to a rough start when it was announced in spring training that he would be suspended for 80 games for violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Since the suspension, Marte has really struggled not only at the plate, but in the field as well. The 22-year-old is hitting just .199 with a .536 OPS over 52 games. Defensively, he has -10 outs above average and has the worst fielding percentage of any third baseman over the last two seasons.

I will be watching to see what strides Marte can make between now and the end of the season. If he doesn't improve, I wouldn't be surprised to see him start the 2025 season in Triple-A Louisville.

3. Rhett Lowder

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder (81) walks off the field during a pitching change in the seventh inning

Sep 5, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder (81) walks off the field during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

It's been an up-and-down season for Rhett Lowder, the Reds' 2023 first-round draft pick. Lately, it's been nothing but positive for the right-hander. Lowder pitched great in his one appearance in Triple-A Louisville before the Reds decided to call him up to the big leagues.

Lowder has a 0.87 ERA over 10 1/3 innings in his two big league starts. The 22-year-old looks like he belongs, and I am interested in seeing how he will close out the season once teams have a scouting report on him.

4. Julian Aguiar

Julian Aguiar (39) throws a pitch during the first inning of the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Julian Aguiar (39) throws a pitch during the first inning of the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati. / Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Julian Aguiar started the season in Double-A Chattanooga but has pitched himself into a roster spot with the Reds. The right-hander has given up two runs or less in four of his five appearances for Cincinnati.

I will be paying attention to how Aguiar closes out the season and can see him in a Carson Spiers-type role on the 2025 roster.

5. Connor Phillips

Feb 27, 2024; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Connor Phillips (34) throws in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images / Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Connor Phillips was struggling so badly in the first half of the season for Triple-A Louisville that the Reds sent him to their complex in Arizona to get him some work and reset mentally.

He has made three starts in Triple-A Louisville since his return and each start has looked better. His fastball velocity is right around 99 mph and his command seems to be getting better.

Phillips has the stuff to be a big-leaguer, but his command needs to continue to get better. It is important for him to finish out the season strong with Triple-A Louisville.

6. Reds Minor League Playoffs

Officials with the City of Daytona Beach, Major League Baseball, Cincinnati Reds, the Daytona Tortugas, the Barton Malow Construction Company and others gather, Thursday August 15, 2024 as they break ground for a major renovation project at Jackie Robinson Ballpark / David TuckerNews-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Dayton Dragons and Daytona Tortugas both made the playoffs in their respective leagues. The Dragons finished the season with a 74-58 record and will battle the Lake County Captains in game one of the Midwest League First Round Playoff Series at Day Air Ballpark starting on Tuesday, September 10.

The Tortugas finished the season at 64-64 and will face the Palm Beach Cardinals in game one of the FSL East Division playoffs on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:35 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Both the Dragons and the Tortugas have some talented Reds prospects on their roster and it will be exciting to watch them play in a postseason format.

For more on what to watch for, watch the video below:

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Key Cincinnati Reds Storylines to Follow Down the Stretch of 2024 Season

Greg Kuffner | Sep 9, 2024

1. Elly De La Cruz

2. Noelvi Marte

3. Rhett Lowder

4. Julian Aguiar

5. Connor Phillips

6. Reds Minor League Playoffs

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