Austin Hays was a disaster in Philly last year and now he’s out to prove himself in Cincinnati

The Phillies thought they had their left field situation handled when they traded for Austin Hays at last year’s deadline. Turns out, they were wrong. Very, very wrong.

Hays’ brief tenure in Philly was a mess—injuries, a brutal stat line, and an unceremonious exit at the non-tender deadline. Now, he’s taking his talents to Cincinnati, agreeing to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Reds, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

It’s a fresh start for Hays, but whether he gets a full-time role in the Reds’ crowded outfield remains to be seen.

A Phillies Gamble That Didn’t Pay Off

At the 2024 trade deadline, the Phillies sent Cristian Pache and Seranthony Domínguez to Baltimore, hoping that Austin Hays—an All-Star in 2023—could recapture his form with regular playing time. Everything went in the opposite direction and Hays half-season with the Phils turned out to be a complete disaster.

• Injuries piled up – Two IL stints for a hamstring issue, then a scary kidney infection that ended his season.
• Minimal production – In just 22 games, Hays hit .256 with a .672 OPS, two homers, six RBI, and eight runs.
• No plate discipline – 80 plate appearances, 19 strikeouts, zero walks.

With Austin Hays projected to make $6.4 million in arbitration, the Phillies cut their losses, non-tendering him and moving on. Instead, they signed Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal, banking on him to lock down left field in 2025.

Could we see an Austin Hays Redemption Tour in Cincinnati?

It always seems to work like that here in Philly, right? Player sucks here, leaves, and all of the sudden finds redemption. Austin Hays seems to believe that could be the case, while not shying away from his struggles in Philadelphia.

He knows he fell short—but he’s determined to bounce back.

“I know I didn’t live up to what I know I can do as a ballplayer,” Hays told Rosenthal after being non-tendered. “If I can hit .260 with a kidney infection, what can I do when I’m healthy?”

That’s the big question. The Reds clearly see potential, but he won’t just be handed an everyday role. Cincinnati has been busy this offseason, bringing in Brady Singer, Jose Trevino, Gavin Lux, and Brent Suter in addition to Hays.

Hays vs. the Phillies

Hays will have his chance at revenge when the Reds visit Citizens Bank Park from July 4-6. By then, we’ll know if his time in Philadelphia was just a blip—or a sign of decline.

Either way, the Phillies have moved on. Now it’s up to Hays to prove they made a mistake.

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