Red Report - Scooter Gennett

Fast Facts

Position: Second Base
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Height: 5’10” Weight: 185 lbs.

High School: Sarasota High School (Sarasota, FL)

Organizational Information

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round of the 2009 amateur draft.
Debut: June 3, 2013
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2013 season
2017 Contract Status: Signed through 2017, 1yr/$2.53m
Arb Eligible: 2018
Free Agent: 2020

Transactions

June 9, 2009: Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round of the 2009 amateur draft. Player signed August 17, 2009.
March 28, 2017: Selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Career Stats

2016 Pitch/fx Data and Charts and Graphs and Colors

Scouting GIFs

Here’s moving picture of Scoot doing something I don’t quite understand.

Celebration game strong...

#Grit #TWTW

Outlook

Late in Spring Training, the Milwaukee Brewers, having brought up Orlando Arcia to play short full time and thus moving Jonathan Villar second, waived Scooter Gennett. He’d spent some time playing 3B this spring, but their acquisition of Travis Shaw left Scooter out in the cold by the time April rolled around.

The Reds claimed Scooter, because of course the Reds claimed a dude that calls himself Scooter. That acquisition more or less left Desmond Jennings out in the cold, which does or doesn’t make sense. You decide (just kidding we did that for you).

It’s not much of a stretch to understand why the Reds brought him in. It’s not exciting, but even at only 26-years-old, he’s been around for a bit, so he brings some years of experience that this particular Reds team lacks. He will be asked to be a backup infielder, and with the short bench, likely one of the pinch hitters asked to step up in some of the bigger moments.

Yesterday, we were treated to what that can mean when it works, as Scooter blasted a 9th inning home run to help the Reds draw within one late. Scooter hit 14 dingers last season, so he’s got a bit of pop, and it was on display on Opening Day.

What’s most interesting will be how the Reds get him time in the field. Primarily, he’ll be Jose Peraza’s backup, but with the aforementioned short bench, the Reds have preached versatility at all turns this spring. To his career at this point, Scooter has shown none. In 3337 innings, only one has Gennett played anywhere besides second base, and that was in right field.

To his credit, Scooter has been very open this Spring about wanting to try new things. With Villar taking his spot at 2B, he began taking reps in the corners. Maybe the Reds liked what they saw in his willingness, though I would imagine that speaks more toward wanting to stay in the league than being any more of a “team player” than the next guy. Regardless, he’s been working on his craft.

Then again, “doing it” and “doing it well” are obviously two totally separate things. He’s never been rated out as a particularly great second baseman, and that’s the place that he’s spent 3000+ innings. The other spots are considered moving “down” the defensive spectrum, but they require different skill sets. I have no insight on the strength of Scooter’s arm, for instance. We’ll just have to find out.

With the Reds only carrying three non-catcher position players on their bench, it’s all but certain we’ll see what Gennett can do at a spot other than second base. It’ll be then that we see what he can really be worth to this club.