CINCINNATI — Proper fielder Rece Hinds wasn’t anticipating to get his first huge league promotion to the Reds and was asleep when Triple-A Louisville supervisor Pat Kelly woke him to ship the shocking information Sunday night time.
After that, Hinds made a name to his mom, Michelle, however that proved overwhelming.
“I truly needed to dangle up on her,” Hinds mentioned. “She began screaming and I used to be like, ‘I can’t take this proper now. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to determine what’s happening.’”
Hinds did name his mother again, however the 90-minute journey to Cincinnati on Monday wasn’t calming for the prospect ranked by MLB Pipeline as No. 15 within the group.
“Actually once I was driving up from Louisville, I used to be a wreck,” he mentioned. “I in all probability teared up a few occasions driving up. I didn’t eat something all day.”
When it got here time to carry out on Monday night time vs. the Rockies, Hinds was not overcome by the second. The 23-year-old made his huge league debut with two extra-base hits — together with a booming residence run — in a 6-0 Reds win over the Rockies throughout Monday’s four-game sequence opener at Nice American Ball Park.
It was a much-needed victory for Cincinnati, which got here off being swept three video games within the earlier sequence in opposition to the Tigers.
“To step proper into a giant league sport like that and instantly contribute to a win, what an effective way to get it going,” Reds supervisor David Bell mentioned.
Hinds made his first impression on the sport defensively within the high of the fifth inning with a pleasant sliding catch whereas operating in on Hunter Goodman’s fly to proper subject.
Throughout Minor League camp at Spring Coaching in 2022, Hinds was moved to the outfield. The 2019 second-rounder was a 3rd baseman when the Reds chosen him.
“It’s lots simpler on my legs out on the grass,” he mentioned of the outfield. “I’ve been working my butt off the final couple of years to be prepared for this name and present what I can do on the market.”
The Reds have been main 2-0 within the backside of the fifth inning with one out in opposition to Rockies starter Ryan Feltner when Hinds laced a line drive off the glove of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. He did not hesitate operating to second base for a double as his first Main League hit.
“It being a hustle double was fairly cool,” Hinds mentioned of the primary hit. “As quickly as I noticed it go off the glove, [I said], ‘I’m going two right here.’ I noticed it was in no-man’s land and nobody was round it. I assumed I may get there.”
The Reds broke open the sport with a four-run eighth inning. The catalyst was Hinds, who attacked a 1-2 pitch from reliever Tyler Kinley for a homer to the second deck of seats in left-center subject.
“To be sincere, I didn’t even watch the place the ball went. I type of appeared on the dugout and I fully blacked out on the bases,” Hinds mentioned.
The Statcast-projected distance of Hinds’ homer was 449 toes. Since Statcast started in 2015, it was the second-longest homer by a participant making his MLB debut, behind solely Colorado’s Sam Hilliard (455 toes) in 2019.
“That’s nothing however a traditional homer to Rece,” famous Reds beginning pitcher Andrew Abbott, who delivered a giant seven-inning begin to shut down the Rockies. He allowed three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts as he received his fourth consecutive begin and sixth of his final seven.
Abbott, who made his personal huge league debut simply over a yr in the past on June 5, 2023, was considered one of many acquainted faces Hinds noticed within the clubhouse.
“Enjoying with Rece just about my whole profession with the Reds within the Minors, [he is] a very humble man,” Abbott mentioned. “He’s going to point out up able to go day-after-day and due to that, he will get rewarded with what he does in the present day. He can showcase much more than what he confirmed in the present day and everyone is able to see it.”
Hinds was batting .216 with 13 residence runs and 41 RBIs at Louisville, and he additionally had 126 strikeouts in 296 at-bats (42.6 %). However with a spate of outfielder accidents on the roster, Cincinnati wanted him to step up.
Cincinnati’s younger workforce is loaded with others who debuted the previous two seasons. Teammates welcomed him with open arms.
“I walked into the clubhouse and noticed all of those acquainted faces and everybody simply greeted me and appeared like they have been pleased for me to be right here,” he mentioned. “It makes you’re feeling extra comfy. It makes it really feel like residence.”