Despite having one of the fastest rosters in Major League Baseball in 2025, the Cincinnati Reds didn’t fully take advantage of their speed on the basepaths. Under manager Terry Francona, the team adopted a more cautious approach to baserunning—an approach that may have limited their offensive potential.
Take Spencer Steer, for example. His offensive performance in 2025 was nearly identical to his 2024 season. However, his baserunning impact dropped sharply. While he had a similar number of opportunities to take extra bases, his stolen base attempts fell from 113 to just 71. As a result, Steer went from being a contributor in baserunning to a neutral factor.
Francona’s cautious philosophy affected the entire lineup. Will Benson, the team’s fastest regular player, attempted only four steals and was thrown out twice. The only player seemingly unaffected was Matt McLain, who already ran conservatively.
This trend is surprising given that six Reds players—Elly De La Cruz, McLain, Benson, Rece Hinds, Blake Dunn, and Noelvi Marte—rank in the top 11% of all MLB players in sprint speed. Yet the team isn’t using that speed to its advantage.
Injuries have played a role in this conservative approach, particularly with key players like De La Cruz and Steer. Still, the data shows that speed is a strong factor in team success. In 2025, eight of the top 11 teams in baserunning runs made the playoffs. That includes the Reds, who secured a postseason spot, while others like the Mets and Diamondbacks stayed competitive through the final week.
Only the Tampa Bay Rays failed to turn their running game into a playoff berth. With that in mind, if the Reds hope to build on their 2025 playoff appearance, Francona may need to return to a more aggressive style on the bases.
Letting his players run more freely could be key to unlocking the full potential of a young, athletic roster.
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