The Cincinnati Reds have long struggled with developing outfield talent, so it’s no surprise that the fanbase is buzzing about the possibility of signing Austin Hays to a long-term contract.
The 29-year-old outfielder has impressed early on, and many Reds fans are already imagining him as a fixture in Cincinnati beyond the 2025 season.
After earning an All-Star nod in 2023, Hays faced a rough 2024 with injuries and subpar performance. As a result, he signed a one-year, $4 million deal this offseason to prove his value. Despite starting the year on the injured list due to a calf injury, Hays has come out strong in 2025, posting an impressive .371/.421/.657 slash line, along with three home runs and nine RBIs in just eight games.
However, this hot start might remind Reds fans of another outfielder who had a brief, promising stint with the team—Tyler Naquin. Naquin’s rise in 2021 was a feel-good story, but his trajectory serves as a cautionary tale for those hoping to lock Hays down for the long term.
Naquin, who had struggled with injuries during his time with the Cleveland Guardians, was non-tendered in 2020 before signing a minor-league deal with the Reds. After a strong spring training, Naquin made the Reds’ Opening Day roster and found himself starting regularly when Nick Senzel suffered a season-ending injury.
In 127 games, Naquin posted a solid .270/.333/.477 line with 19 home runs and 70 RBIs, becoming a key part of the Reds’ lineup. However, a late-season injury cut his year short, and while his performance was enough to earn him a spot on the 2022 roster, his subsequent struggles highlight the unpredictable nature of signing players to long-term deals based on a breakout season.
Naquin was eventually kept around for 2022 on a one-year, $4 million deal, but his time in Cincinnati was fleeting.
As the Reds contemplate Hays’ future with the team, the story of Naquin’s rise and fall serves as a reminder that one strong season doesn’t always guarantee sustained success.
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