What the leadership core looks like on the 2025 Reds

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When Spencer Steer looks back at the Reds’ disappointing 2024 season, something still frustrates him.

“There are a lot of times where we’d play consistent baseball and then fall back into the same mistakes we were making,” Steer said.

The Reds would be playing good baseball against some of the best teams in MLB. And then as soon as the Reds got any momentum, they’d shoot themselves in the foot with mistakes on the bases and in the field. They’d drop another winnable series.

Everyone knows that the Reds can’t fall into this trap again in 2025. Terry Francona’s message so far has focused on the importance of consistently executing the details that make up winning baseball. The talk around the clubhouse is how much the players are going to hold each other accountable and make sure they’re reaching that standard.

“(We’re) holding each other to a standard and being so consistent with that,” Steer said. “If everyone is pulling on the same side of the rope and being like, ‘We’re not going to make these mistakes over and over again.’”

Francona said that he doesn’t believe in anointing leaders. “You can make mistakes by doing that,” he said. “They emerge over time by the way that they play the game.”

Guys like Tyler Stephenson, Steer, Hunter Greene and TJ Friedl are reaching the points of their career where they’re a lot more established. They’re a lot closer to veterans than they are rookies.

“We have some young guys who have tremendous leadership capability,” Francona said. “A guy like Friedl. Stephenson. McLain. I don’t have to go out and tell that room that. They’ll grow into that. It takes them time to do that.”

Over the last few seasons, Kyle Farmer, Joey Votto, Jonathan India and Luke Maile have been some of the most vocal leaders in the clubhouse. Stephenson, who had his first full year in the big leagues in 2021 and is already the longest-tenured Red, stepped into a bigger leadership role last year. Now, the players who debuted in 2022 and 2023 have been around long enough to speak up when they need to.

“It all stems from Tito,” Stephenson said. “He’s all going to hold us to a standard and wants excellence out of all of us. We all have to hold ourselves to that standard. This is Year 10 for me in the Reds’ organization (he was drafted in 2015). I can use my voice when I need it and my experience when I need it. I want to be able to communicate and have those conversations when the time comes.”

Stephenson made a point to give Greene credit for the growth that the Reds’ ace has made in this area.

“Hunter has taken a lot of pride in the work that he has done,” Stephenson said. “It’s cool to see him taking those steps. He spent a lot of time with Rhett (Lowder) last year. Hunter will go out of his way, especially with the young guys, to show them the way.”

Greene went out of his way to give Elly De La Cruz some praise for the young shortstop’s impact on the clubhouse.

“(De La Cruz) sets the tone, inspires and motivates the next group of middle infielders and players that are behind him,” Greene said.

Multiple players have mentioned Steer as a guy who does everything the right way.

“I’ve always tried to lead by example by showing up early and working my (tail) off and being the same guy every day,” Steer said. “There’s value in that. I can be someone to maybe lead in that way. By continuing to be who I am, I hope that I can positively impact this team.”

Nick Krall and Francona have also both specifically credited Friedl as a player who sets a great example with how hard he plays.

During the offseason, Krall made a point to add veterans who came from winning teams, including Gavin Lux, Jose Trevino, Brady Singer and Austin Hays. The new guys will bring some different perspectives, and they’ve all played on teams competing at the highest level.

“They’ve been there and done it, and they’re not overbearing in their presence,” Francona said. “They have a lot of good stuff to say.”

The Reds’ homegrown core is still young, but the 2024 season showed them some valuable lessons. It reminded them of the pitfalls that can happen when players make mistakes and don’t hold each other accountable.

The Reds know that they can do a better job of that in 2025, and the young leaders in the clubhouse are ready to be more active in that process.

“A few years ago in Cleveland, we were young as hell,” Francona said. “We found a way to win. You don't need to over complicate baseball.”

For more of Charlie’s coverage of spring training, stay posted here. Also, look out for some upcoming features with Cincinnati Magazine.