Reds’ India has task of learning two new positions this spring
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Jonathan India is on the move. But it’s not the kind of move he expected at the start of the offseason.
India, who admits he thought the Reds were going to trade him, has spent most of spring training learning two new positions rather than playing second base, where Matt Mclain has taken over.
The plan is for India to play pretty much every day this year, either at first base or in left field, with some starts at second and as the designated hitter.
“The key for me is playing instinctually,” India said. “It’s not that easy, but mentally that’s what I’m doing. I’ve been working at it pretty hard. I’m getting comfortable with my footwork around the bag at first and am working on my picks and positioning. It’s been pretty solid. In the outfield, I’ve got to learn how to play the ball off the wall, the footwork coming toward the ball and throwing. That’s all in progress.”
Complicating things is that India is still working on strengthening his foot and his heel after his plantar fascia tore during the offseason. He’s trying to introduce more and more running into his routine.
“It’s about comfort,” Reds first base coach Collin Cowgill said. “The idea with him is to get him as many reps as possible without spending too much time on his feet. He’s seeing balls off the bat. He’s getting that repetition. He has done an amazing job so far.”
Cowgill has prioritized getting India reps shagging fly balls in the outfield, and he has also gotten creative. India used to be a football player, and Cowgill had the idea to have India go through defensive back drills. As Cowgill throws a football, India backpedals “off the line of scrimmage,” pivots his hips and turns into a sprint to reel in a deep pass. It mimics the footwork India
should use when he tracks the baseball.
“He picks it up fast because he’s a great athlete,” Cowgill said. “I’ve said since the beginning that he can be good out there. He’s an athlete, and he knows what he’s doing.”
Even though he has also been working quite a bit at first base, India still hasn’t gotten his own first baseman’s glove. He’s trying out the gloves of a few teammates.
And he is working on his swing. During his rookie year in 2021, he took off as a hitter in May when he started using a toe tap. Now, India isn’t consistently using that same toe tap and is more fluid with his mechanics.
“My swing is all about how I’m feeling that day,” India said. “I don’t have a set stance. It’s just about if my timing is right. I just want to get up there and hit. Keep it simple, be smooth and compete in the box. Everyone talks about mechanics. That doesn’t work as well for me.”
So India has a lot to figure out this spring. His swing, his defense and his sprinting are all works in progress.
“I’m ready to play and I’m excited to play,” India said. “I’m just excited to be at game speed and get my adrenaline going. But right now, I’m very pleased.”