Cincinnati Reds Have What it Takes To Win NL Central In 2015

Coming into 2014, the Cincinnati Reds had won at least 90 games in each of the past two seasons. Unfortunately for them, they struggled mightily down the stretch en route to a disappointing 76-86 record and a fourth place finish in their division.

The Reds were in the thick of the playoff race for most of the season, only 1.5 games behind the Brewers at the All-Star break, but they were a putrid 25-42 in the second half of the season. Their struggles included several long losing streaks as well as multiple injuries to top-tier players.

First baseman Joey Votto played in only 62 games, and wasn't his usual stellar self when he was on the field. He hit a career-low .255 with only six home runs and 23 RBIs, but he had knee surgery in the offseason and is feeling better per Kevin Goheen of Fox Sports Ohio.  

"I feel like I've made progress and I feel like I'm heading in the right direction," Votto told Goheen. "I would say it's coming along and I would say that I feel like I've made a lot of really good progress in the right direction."

It is unknown whether Votto can return to 100 percent, but even if he cannot gain full strength of his lower body and he doesn't drive the ball out of the park like he has done in the past, he can still be a tremendous asset. He is the best in baseball at getting on base, and his power should not hinder his ability to draw walks and help his team score runs.

Fangraphs' The Steamer projects Votto to lead the league in on-base percentage to go along with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. While that is not exactly peak production, especially for a corner infielder, he impacts the game more than his numbers might suggest.

But Votto wasn't the only Red who battled injury, as the team had 15 different players register a total of 19 appearances on the Disabled List. All-Stars Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips were also hampered by injuries in 2014.

Phillips missed over a month after suffering a torn thumb ligament diving for a ball, and Bruce battled knee troubles and hit a paltry .217.

Both those guys are back and looking for rebound seasons. The Reds activated Phillips in August, and he finished the season by hitting .295 in September. Bruce, on the other hand, stumbled to the finish. He hit only .213 in the final month of the season, but manager Bryan Price had only positive things to say about the 27-year-old right fielder.

"I think he'd prefer not to be asked about his knee because he feels he's 100 percent," Price said via John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer. "I was a part of 2014 and will not be part of 2015.  At this point, it's a non-issue."

And while 2014 was overall a bleak year, there were plenty of bright spots, including two players who had breakout seasons. Third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Devin Mesoraco each earned their first career All-Star Game trip. Frazier hit 29 home runs and drove in 80, while Mesoraco launched 25 round trippers and recorded an outstanding 149 OPS+ according to Baseball-Reference.

In addition, there's the curious case of Billy Hamilton. In his rookie season last year, he displayed the blazing speed that scouts have been drooling about since he played in the minors. His 56 stolen bases were tied for second in the league, but he finished the year in a massive slump and finished with a .250 average and an unimpressive .292 on base percentage. He also led the league with 23 caught stealing

According to John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Hamilton has spent this offseason getting stronger, improving his base running and trying to hit more line drives in an attempt to perform well at the plate for an entire season. If he can find a way to raise his OBP to the .325 range, he could steal more bases and score more runs.  

The Reds also acquired Marlon Byrd from the Phillies right before New Year's Day. Despite his age (37), Byrd had one of his best seasons last year. He hit .264 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs, and should provide even more pop to the middle of the order than it already had.

Check out the projected lineup that the Reds will send out on Opening Day, per Bleacher Report MLB Featured Columnist Joel Rueter:

They have solid pitching as well. Last year, the Reds' starting rotation was third in the majors in ERA (3.59). And even though they traded away both Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon this offseason, the staff is still in good hands.

Young lefthander Tony Cingrani will step into the rotation, and he has the tools to perform at a high level. Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, and Homer Bailey will return, giving the Reds plenty of experience starting games.

The bullpen had the fifth-highest ERA in the majors in 2014, and after Aroldis Chapman, they really don't have any quality arms. Sam LeCure, J.J. Hoover, and Manny Parra must have better seasons this year for the Reds to have a chance to contend for a playoff berth.

With the lineup they have, they are going to score plenty of runs if their stars can stay healthy. If the pitching staff can endure the loss of Latos and Simon, there is no reason that Cincinnati shouldn't be able to challenge the Cardinals' two-year streak of winning the NL Central.