New father India’s ‘different lifestyle’ beneficial for Reds
Cincinnati Reds veteran Jonathan India learned two new positions this spring, made a swing change and prepared to have a new role on the Reds in 2024. And as he did all of that, he learned something about himself.
“This spring freed me up a lot as a player,” India said. “It gave me confidence. It freed me up to just be an athlete. I didn’t expect it. I expected learning new positions to make my hitting harder because I was focusing on that. But it actually helped me hit. I don’t know how to describe it.”
India’s perspective has changed a lot over the last 12 months. He started the 2023 season as the Reds’ leadoff hitter and second baseman of the future. In 2024, he started out spring training as a utility player.
Because of the Reds’ additions, India’s role had changed so much, he thought the team was going to trade him. The decision to keep him carries a lot more significance now with TJ Friedl and Matt
Mclain on the injured list and Noelvi Marte under suspension.
The expectation is India will begin this year in a familiar role at second base. But
India puts less stock into roles and those types of things than he used to.
“It’s a new year for me,” India said. “I’m a father now. It’s a different lifestyle. I’m doing this for a lot more now. I’m out here. I do my job and enjoy the game with my teammates. Then I get to go home and be a father. There’s nothing better than that.”
India had a daughter during the offseason and said the experience of being a dad has completely changed his perspective. He believes fatherhood gives him more structure and more discipline. It’s helped him improve his time management, and it’s led to him living on more of a set schedule.
“There’s so much going really well for him in his life and his career,” manager David Bell said. “He’s set up for this to be a steppingstone to a new beginning in some ways. A new world for him and his career. Who knows what the possibilities are?”
At the start of spring training, as India was learning how to play first base and left field, Bell said the fair thing to do would be to expect mistakes. For his entire life, India had only played second base and third base.
During spring training games, India dropped only one pop fly in left field. Other than that, his experience at two new positions has been better than anticipated. He has particularly impressed at first, making diving stops, scooping difficult throws and looking like he has played that position for a while.
“I can relate to the situation he’s in because I was in the same spot last year,” Reds outfielder Spencer Steer said. “What he’s doing speaks to the volume of his character. He’s willing to move
around the diamond and do what this team is asking of him. He’s an impressive player, obviously, and is one of the best guys we’ve got. I’m expecting big things out of him this year.”
At one point this spring, India went an entire month without taking any reps at second base. That changed when Mclain suffered a shoulder injury. Now, he’ll play more at his favorite position.
It doesn’t really matter to him that his role has changed so much already. It doesn’t really matter that he heard all offseason that he couldn’t play second base and that now he’s back at that position.
“As long as I’m in the lineup every day, I’m good,” India said.