Jonathan India playing multiple positions

This post comes from Tony Travisano……it is a little bit delayed due to our Chatterbox Road Trip (Tony wrote this back on March 10th), but Tony still has a lot of good insight into Jonathan India’s role on the 2024 Reds.

Former National League Rookie of the Year Jonathan India made his 2024 spring training debut over the weekend. Playing in two games, neither was at the 2nd base position. 

Back on February 9th, India signed a two year contract extension with the Reds, avoiding arbitration for both this year and next. While the extension came as unexpected news, the idea of where India would play was a topic of discussion.

Over the weekend India started at both 1st base, and Left field, two positions David Bell said India would see the most playing time at this season. In an article by Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer, India was quoted “I’m open to this. I’ll train for it and do the best I can at those positions. I’m going to do everything I can to help.” 

Friday night’s rain shortened game against the Los Angeles Dodgers saw India making his spring debut at 1st base. During the five innings of play, India had a routine pop up hit to him, and made a nice diving catch on a line drive off the bat of Gavin Lux. India at the plate drew a walk and lined out to both right and left field. 

In Sunday's game vs the Cleveland Guardians, India made his debut in the outfield. Batting leadoff and playing in left, India clubbed his first home run of the spring leading off the bottom of the first inning. He would finish the afternoon going 1-3. 

It will be interesting to see how India is utilized the rest of spring. Having the willingness to expand his positional versatility could put the Reds in a good spot throughout the year. He doesn’t need to play gold glove caliber defense at his new positions. But if he can work to be serviceable at them this spring, having a guy like India off the bench at multiple positions certainly won’t hurt.