Former Reds Helping Their New Teams Thrive in 2016

The Chicago White Sox are off to a great start in 2016, currently in first place ahead of the defending World Champion Kansas City Royals in the American League central division. Part of Chicago’s success, however, is due to the team currently in last place in the National League central, the Cincinnati Reds.

The cleanup hitter in the middle of the batting order arrived to Chicago via a winter trade with Cincinnati. Todd Frazier leads the White Sox in home runs, and he has been their biggest power threat during the sluggish start of 2014 Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu.

Frazier is not the only former Reds player who has been a critical part of their success this season. Catcher Dioneer Navarro, who left Cincinnati to help Toronto win a division championship last year, has provided Chicago with clutch hitting and invaluable game calling.

One of those pitchers he has helped is himself a former Cincinnati Red. Mat Latos left Cincinnati after 2014, but he has overcome last year’s struggles to win every one of his decisions so far with Chicago.

It was last year when the Reds had a similar positive effect on the ball club on the north side of the Windy City. The Cubs reached the National League championship series last year with contributions from former Cincinnati players. David Ross, who recently caught Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter against the Reds, served as Chicago’s backup catcher. Left hander Travis Wood became a flexible part of the Cubs pitching staff, splitting time between starting and coming out if the bullpen.

Joining the Cubs and White Sox in first place right now are the Washington Nationals, who are also indebted in part to the Reds. Manager Dusty Baker led Cincinnati to four postseason appearances during his tenure, and now he has guided the Nationals to a great start in his first season at the helm in Washington.

Baker has had assistance from some of his former players with the Reds, especially Chris Heisey. The veteran played for Baker in Cincinnati for four seasons, and he is now the fourth outfielder for the Nationals. Washington reliever Matt Belisle is also a former Reds player who was in the Cincinnati bullpen during Baker’s tenure there.

Other former Reds are helping different teams in 2016, in addition to All-Star slugger Edwin Encarnacion of Toronto, shortstop Didi Gregorius of the Yankees, and outfielder Shin soo-Choo of Texas. Starter Mike Leake and catcher Brayan Pena are both playing for Cincinnati’s rival, the St. Louis Cardinals. Marlon Byrd is starting in the outfield for the Cleveland Indians, and Ryan Hanigan is now the backup catcher in Boston. Cincinnati’s first round pick from several years ago, Yasmani Grandal, continues to be the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Yonder Alonso is now the everyday first baseman for the Oakland A’s.

Cincinnati fans, who so far have not had much to cheer about in 2016, must wait to see how much their former closer Aroldis Chapman will help the last place Yankees. Because he violated Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, Chapman is finishing up a thirty game suspension and should return next week to bolster New York’s chances to turn the season around.

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