BOSTON –– During batting practice this season, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India takes more ground balls than any other player on the team. Since spring training, he has spoken about his motivation to stay in the infield, and India has found success recently with adjustments that have helped him develop a quicker first step.
Even though India is showing the defensive improvement that the Reds wanted to see, the position that he will play for the Reds in the future is in question.
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Shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the top prospect in baseball, is getting very close to being called up to MLB and joining the Reds’ roster. When he gets promoted, De La Cruz is expected to be the Reds’ starting shortstop. He’s the most gifted defensive prospect in the organization, and the Reds believe that De La Cruz’s elite speed, range and arm could make him one of the best shortstops in baseball.
Rookie Matt McLain has played an impressive shortstop during his first two weeks in MLB, but the Reds see in him the potential to be one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball.
That leads to the question about India, who said before Tuesday’s game that he’s focused on this week’s series over his future role on the team.
The Reds have a few options with India when De La Cruz gets promoted. They could make him a frequent designated hitter, they could move him to left field or they could make De La Cruz a full-time starting third baseman for the first time in his professional career. Currently, those options are much more likely than moving India to third base or De La Cruz to the outfield.
Before Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Reds manager David Bell participated in a Q&A about India’s role on the Reds.
When you have a prospect like Elly De La Cruz, what’s the planning like and what are the conversations like when you have a player who might be impacted like Jonathan India?
Bell: “To me, it’s how this game is. As an organization, you’re always trying to improve. It’s something that, yes, I’ve thought about. But we’ll figure it out when it happens. We have a lot of flexibility on our roster, a lot of versatility and guys who can play multiple positions. When that time does come, it’s going to be a positive for our team. We’ll find a way to make it work.”
How much improvement have you noticed defensively from Jonathan India at second base this season?
Bell: “Absolutely. He’s working extremely hard at it. He always does. He has even found new ways to work. Even over the last few weeks, he has shown improvement. He’s a huge part of our team. Everybody knows that. That’s no secret. That’s my main focus, having Jonathan continue to be a big part of our team for years to come.”
Were you in the position at some point during your career where you had to change positions because the team changed?
Bell: “Oh yeah. I sure did. It’s not always an easy thing. Most players are faced with a situation like that. Typically, you have a choice to make on how to handle that. Most times, the right decision was made. It’ll be my job, and I look forward to figuring it out and making it all work.
How important are Jonathan India’s leadership and his intangibles to the team?
Bell: “He represents exactly the type of player and teammate that we want on our team. He’s at the very top of leading the identity and all the positive focus we’ve had around the team. He has a lot to do with that. That’s very important to have a player like that, and a good player.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Elly De La Cruz impacts Jonathan India’s future with Cincinnati