Reds Beat: JJ Bleday, Dane Myers Give Terry Francona Lots of Options in Reds’ Dynamic Outfield

The Reds entered the 2026 spring training with a clear mandate: improve an outfield that struggled with consistency and production against left-handed pitching in 2025. To address these gaps, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall executed two key moves on the same day in late December, signing free agent JJ Bleday to a one-year, $1.4 million deal and trading minor-leaguer Ethan O’Donnell to the Marlins for Dane Myers.

The Reds have been searching for outfield consistency, both offensive and defensive metrics for the last several years. The early returns this spring indicate that the Reds will definitely find a place for both of their bats in a rotating outfield. Defensively, Bleday, like Noelvi Marte in right, needs to show he can handle the glove and field the position, whether that’s in left or right.

“I’ve been really honing in on my defensive stuff more like in practice, like individual defense and BP, like the best way to get get it outfield is shagging balls and checking balls and BP,” Bleday told me. “So a main emphasis has been just working on my jump, just trying to find something comfortable that’s going to get me up to speed. Because the speed hasn’t been really the issue. I’m above average speed. Nothing crazy. But if I can get that quickness down and and cover that first six to 10 feet, that goes a long ways, especially on the balls coming in, that’s where I struggle a little bit. And then same thing offensively, just again, working on consistency, repeatability and and then just approach, trusting it.”

The Role of JJ Bleday: Left-Handed Corner Power
JJ Bleday, a former fourth overall pick, is viewed by the Reds’ front office as a “corner bat” with significant offensive upside. Although he has experience in center, Bleday and the organization agree – his long-term fit is on the corners in the outfield. Bleday is projected to compete for playing time in left field, particularly against right-handed pitching, though he has gotten looks in right field this spring.

Offensive Upside:

The Reds are betting on Bleday’s 2024 form, where he hit 20 home runs with the Athletics. His lefty swing is considered a natural fit for Great American Ball Park.

“I feel like I like where I’m at definitely can still improve a little bit,” Bleday said. “But I’m hitting the ball as hard as I’ve ever had in my career, which is a good sign. I feel like a lot of good things happen from that. I still want to cut down on some strikeouts, just put more balls and play with two strikes. And just be a little bit more specific with guys in scoring position. You know, those are my goals this year, is to cut down on strikeouts and be better with guys in scoring position, but, but overall, I feel like I’ve been doing a good job at the plate this spring.

Spring Performance:

Bleday has been one of the standouts of the Cactus League, slashing .294/.351/.529 through mid-March. Manager Terry Francona has praised his “smooth swing,” which features less extra movement than in previous years.

Roster Status:

While he has a minor league option remaining, his strong spring has made him a frontrunner for a bench spot or a platoon starting role in left field.

The Role of Dane Myers: The Much-Needed Right-Handed Bat
While Bleday provides the lefty power, Dane Myers is the versatile chess piece the Reds desperately needed in the outfield. A former pitcher with elite 97th-percentile arm strength, Myers brings a rare combination of high-end defense and specific offensive utility.

Lefty Killer:

Myers’ primary value lies in his ability to punish left-handed pitching. He owns a career .297 average and .816 OPS against southpaws, addressing a team-wide weakness from 2025.

“I think controlling the strike zone, not necessarily swinging out of the zone, near as much kind of getting back to using the whole field,” Myers told me. “I think I fell into a little rut of trying to become somebody I wasn’t last year and trying to maybe do a little too much damage at the plate. And I think one of my best that damage kind of comes on its own. I’ve always been a guy that that like to use the whole field, use right field and left field when I could. So not trying to be that dead pull hitter and kind of just being relaxed and taking whatever the pitcher gives me is kind of helped me hit that reset.”

Defensive Versatility:

Unlike Bleday, Myers is considered a “true backup center fielder” who can provide regular starter TJ Friedl with days off. Francona has even experimented with Myers in center while moving Friedl to a corner spot to maximize defensive coverage.

Breakout Spring:

Two weeks into March, Myers dominated Cactus League pitching with a .350/.522/.650 slash line and a remarkable 31% walk rate. Despite a brief scratch from the lineup due to illness in mid-March, he is considered a virtual lock for the Opening Day roster.

Francona sees a bright future for both on this Reds roster.

“Dane is going to be a good defender wherever you put him,” Francona said. “JJ, will stay on the corners. I know he’s played center, but we have guys that we would put there ahead of him. Jay, JJ, has had a couple miscues. I think he can be a quality defender. Dane, I think is going to be above average wherever you put him out there and he throws. They both throw really well, which is good in today’s game, you don’t always see that.

What about offensively?

“(Myers) complements what we have, really should complement what we have really well, JJ has actually swung to bat against some lefties, pretty good, too. And again, I don’t know that’s what you would end up seeing, but it’s nice to see that. Think if JJ can keep his swing where he doesn’t have that little extra movement, because it’s a pretty swing.”

A former corner infielder at Rice University and in the minors, Myers found his home in Miami in the outfield. why the Reds were so attracted to you because of your versatility.

“Yeah, I like to take pride in that and kind of making Tito’s job easier,” said Myers said. “I miss playing the infield. I miss being a super utility and having that in my back back pocket too. But yeah, I think being able to play all three and not not being the guy that has to play one position will help me and help the team as well.”

While rehabbing his knee injury, Collin Cowgill has found time to work with Myers and Bleday on their outfield technique.

“It’s been fun for me being somewhat new to the outfield and just kind of appreciating his attention to detail,” Myers said. “I think a lot of that goes unnoticed and unappreciated, and I think it goes a long way in a full 162 and those little details can can win or lose ballgames, and he makes sure to cover everything possible that we need to make sure we’re prepared for those little, little moments that we need to be ready for.”

As the regular season nears, both players have emerged as central figures in a crowded but high-upside outfield rotation.

Will Benson and Rece Hinds remain in the mix, but the addition of Bleday and Myers has created a more specialized rotation. When a tough left-hander is on the mound, fans can expect Myers to see the field, potentially pushing Friedl or a corner outfielder to the bench. Conversely, when facing a righty at GABP, Bleday’s pull-side power becomes a weapon Francona will likely look to exploit either in the lineup or as a primary pinch-hitter.

Ultimately, the “fit” for Bleday and Myers is about balance. They provide the Reds with a tactical flexibility they lacked last year, allowing the team to play the matchups more aggressively without sacrificing defensive quality in the late innings.

Then there’s Will Benson. For the 2026 season, Benson’s role is projected as a strong-side platoon outfielder and high-impact bench weapon. After a 2025 season where he flashed elite underlying power metrics despite a low batting average, Benson entered 2026 spring training with refined mechanics and is expected to be a primary contributor against right-handed pitching.

2026 Projected Role & Utility

Strong-Side Platoon:

Benson will primarily start in left field when the Reds face right-handed pitchers (RHP). In 2025, he improved his approach to attack in-zone strikes more aggressively, though he continues to struggle against left-handed pitching (LHP).

Defensive Versatility:

He is one of the few Reds players capable of starting at all three outfield positions. While mainly a corner outfielder, he serves as a critical backup to TJ Friedl in center field.

Late-Inning Specialist:

Due to his elite sprint speed, Benson is the team’s go-to pinch runner in high-leverage situations.

Power Bench Bat:

His raw power makes him a dangerous pinch-hitting option late in games, particularly at Great American Ball Park. Benson’s role has been a “rollercoaster” over the last two seasons, characterized by elite physical tools but high strikeout rates.

Roster Projection 3.0:

The Reds are “deloading” Chase Burns to make sure his range of motion in his pitching shoulder is where it should be. At first, this would appear to indication he wouldn’t make the rotation to start the season. But Francona announced Tuesday that Burns, Brandon Williamson and Rhett Lowder will all start the season with the big league club as Francona employs a “six for five” rotation strategy.

“And between those three to start the season – we’re not going to have a six-man rotation but we have six for five,” Francona told reporters. “Lowder didn’t pitch last year. Williamson hadn’t pitched in 15 months and Burns has 13 Minor League starts. We’re trying to help those guys along and not sacrifice winning… You’ll see (Williamson) either potentially come in after Burns or start a game and (then) have Lowder (pitch). I don’t think we feel the need to say it ahead of time as far as strategy goes, but that’s kind of where we’re sitting. You’ll see them pitch one of those two days.”

Francona added that none of the three pitchers will be used as relievers in games other than potentially the days the fourth or fifth starter works. In other words, the trio will cover the two days of starts after Abbott, Lodolo and Singer. It was Burns who reported a slight lack of range of motion in his right shoulder. So, the Reds will be as cautious as possible while still keeping his valuable arm on the staff.

“I think the score dictates certain things,” Francona said. “If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it where these guys have a chance to have as normal a build-up progression to their pitching as they can. We’re not going to do this forever because it won’t work. But starting out, especially with guys not being all the way stretched out, if somebody has a long inning, we think this can maybe help that along.”

With Hunter Greene already on the shelf, the logical choice for No. 5 was lefty Brandon Williamson – with a dominant spring so far. But Tuesday’s announcement changes somewhat that traditional thinking.

Starting Pitchers (6):
LHP Andrew Abbott
LHP Nick Lodolo
LHP Brady Singer
RHP Rhett Lowder
LHP Brandon Williamson/Chase Burns

Relievers (7):
RHP Pierce Johnson
RHP Grant Ashcraft
LHP Brock Burke
LHP Sam Moll
RHP Tony Santillan
RHP Emilio Pagan
RHP Connor Phillips

Catchers (2):
Tyler Stephenson
Jose Trevino

Infielders (6):
1B/OF Spencer Steer, 2B Matt McLain, SS Elly De La Cruz, 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, 1B/2B/DH Sal Stewart, DH/3B Eugenio Suarez

Outfielders (5):
CF TJ Friedl, RF Noelvi Marte, OF JJ Bleday, OF Will Benson, OF Dane Myers