Jonathan India | |
---|---|
Cincinnati Reds – No. 6 | |
Infielder | |
Born: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | December 15, 1996|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 1, 2021, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
MLB statistics (through April 14,2024) | |
Batting average | .253 |
Home runs | 48 |
Runs batted in | 175 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Jonathan Joseph India (born December 15,1996) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB).
India starred in baseball for American Heritage School. While playing for the Florida Gators,India was named an All-American in 2018,and won the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2018. The Reds selected him with the fifth overall selection in the 2018 MLB draft. India reached the major leagues in 2021 and won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
India attended American Heritage School in Delray Beach,Florida. [1] He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 26th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft,but did not sign and attended the University of Florida,where he played college baseball for the Florida Gators baseball team. [2]
As a freshman at the University of Florida in 2016,India had a .303 batting average,a .367 on-base percentage (OBP),and a .440 SLG,with four home runs and 40 runs batted in (RBI). He was named a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger. [3] and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team All-Freshman Team. [4] Following his freshman season at Florida,India played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League,where he batted 18-for-62 (.290) with seven doubles and 4 RBIs. [5]
As a sophomore in 2017,he hit .274/.354/.429 with six home runs and 34 RBI and was a member of Florida's 2017 College World Series winning team. [6] He missed some of the beginning of the season due to an arm injury. [7] India again played for the Mariners in the Cape Cod League after the season. [8]
As a junior in 2018,India batted .350/.497/.717 with 21 home runs which was sixth in the nation. India won the Southeastern Conference Baseball Player of the Year,which is awarded to the top player in the SEC. [9] He was also named a Baseball America All-American. [10]
India was considered one of the top prospects for the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, [11] [12] and was selected fifth overall by the Cincinnati Reds. [13] India signed with the Reds for $5.3 million, [14] [15] and began his professional career with the Greeneville Reds of the Rookie League Appalachian League,where he batted .261 with three home runs. He was moved to the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League on July 26 to get playing time at shortstop. [16] He hit .250 with two singles in three games for Billings. On July 30,India was promoted to Class A Midwest League Dayton Dragons [17] and ended the season there,batting .229 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 27 games. [18]
India began 2019 with the Daytona Tortugas of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL). [19] In June,he participated in the FSL All-Star game. [20] On July 22,the Reds promoted India to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League after batting .256 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs in 87 games with Daytona. [21] Baseball America named him the No. 51 prospect in 2019. [22] After the season,he played in Arizona Fall League (AFL). He in the AFL after hitting .133/.254/.333 with three home runs in 18 games. [23]
India did not participate in any games during the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [24]
On March 31,2021,the Cincinnati Reds announced India would make his major league debut on Opening Day,after being selected to make the team by way of a strong showing in spring training. Buzz about the move surfaced several days prior to the announcement,after his mother prematurely congratulated him on Instagram. On April 1,2021,India was selected to the 40-man roster, [25] and made his major league debut as the Opening Day starting second baseman. After striking out in his first at bat,India got his first major league hit in his second,a double down the left field line off of St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty,and also collected a single off of Ryan Helsley in at bat number three. [26] [27] India established a Reds rookie record by recording 7 RBI in the first five games of his career. [28]
On April 22,2021,India hit his first career home run at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. [29] [30] On July 30,India had his first multi-home run game,hitting two homers to help beat the New York Mets,6–2. [31] On August 4,2021,India was awarded July NL Rookie of the Month. India slashed .319/.470/.527 with four home runs and 12 RBIs over 25 games. [32] India finished the 2021 season batting .269/.376/.459 with 21 home runs,69 RBIs and 98 runs scored. He swung at a lower percentage of pitches in the strike zone than any other major leaguer,at 58.2%. [33]
India was named the Baseball America Rookie of the Year for the 2021 season. [34] India won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award for the National League,becoming the first Red to earn it since Scott Williamson in 1999. [35] Further,he was nearly the unanimous winner from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) of the Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year Award. [36] He was also named by his fellow players as the "Players Choice Awards" National League Outstanding Rookie. [37] He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in a near unanimous-vote,receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes. [38]
The Reds gave India a $760,000 salary for the 2022 season,a 33% increase over his rookie salary. On April 16,against the Colorado Rockies,India left the game with a right hamstring injury,and was placed on the injured list (IL). After returning on April 26,he went back on the IL on May 1. [39] The injury kept India sidelined throughout the month of May,until he was able to begin a rehab assignment on June 7. [40] He hit a fifth-inning grand slam off Zach Pop of the Miami Marlins on July 25,his first career grand slam. [41]
On August 13,against the Chicago Cubs during the Field of Dreams Game,India was hit by a pitch in his calf,which later caused him to be airlifted to a local hospital due to compartment syndrome,which they suggested that if his injury went untreated for much longer,he potentially could have lost the use of his calf muscle forever. [42] On September 3,against the Rockies,India recorded his first career walk-off hit,a single off of Alex Colomé. [43] India finished the regular season with a .249 average,10 home runs,and 41 RBIs. [44]
India and the Reds agreed to a two-year contract on February 9,2024,and avoided salary arbitration. [45]
India is of Colombian descent through his mother,and was called up to the Colombia national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. [46]
Stephen Bradley Wilkerson is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman who played eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Joseph Daniel Votto is a Canadian professional baseball first baseman in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,for whom he made his MLB debut in 2007. He was the first Canadian MLB player since Larry Walker to have 2,000 hits,300 home runs and 1,000 career runs batted in (RBI).
Jay Allen Bruce is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,New York Mets,Cleveland Indians,Seattle Mariners,Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. The Reds drafted Bruce in the first round,12th overall pick,of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft;he made his MLB debut in 2008. Bruce was named an All-Star three times during his career,and won the Silver Slugger Award twice.
Below are the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Cincinnati Reds,and short biographies on some of the top prospects in the organization:
Nicholas Alexander Castellanos is an American professional baseball right fielder and third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers,Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.
Phillip S. Ervin is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Prior to playing professionally,Ervin attended Samford University,where he played college baseball for the Bulldogs. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners.
Preston Michael Tucker is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers. He stands 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) tall,and weighs 210 pounds (95 kg).
Eugenio Alejandro Suárez is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers,Cincinnati Reds,and Seattle Mariners. Suárez was an MLB All-Star in 2018 with the Reds.
Jesse Winker is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds,Seattle Mariners,and Milwaukee Brewers. He was an All-Star in 2021.
Nicholas Raymond Plummer is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets.
Andrew Sebastian Benintendi is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox,Kansas City Royals,and New York Yankees.
Tyler Robert Stephenson is an American professional baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Reds selected him in the first round,11th overall,of the 2015 MLB Draft.
Richard Allen Martin is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles. He attended the University of Florida and played college baseball for the Florida Gators before the Oakland Athletics selected him in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.
Harrison Joseph Bader,nicknamed "Live B",is an American professional baseball center fielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals,New York Yankees,and Cincinnati Reds.
Nicholas Peter Senzel is an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds. Prior to playing professionally,Senzel attended the University of Tennessee,where he played college baseball for the Volunteers. The Reds selected him with the second overall selection in the 2016 MLB draft and he made his major league debut in 2019.
Aristides Aquino Núñez is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.
Peter Morgan Alonso,nicknamed "Polar Bear",is an American professional baseball first baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019.
Shedric Bernard Long Jr. is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners.
Judson Edward Fabian is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization.
Mark Daniel Kolozsvary is an American professional baseball catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft.