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The 2020 Cincinnati Reds season was the 151st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), and their 18th at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. They made the playoffs as the number 7 seed in the National League, but were swept in two games by the Atlanta Braves in the NLWCS. The Braves held the Reds scoreless for all 22 innings in the series, an MLB postseason record.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.
The shortened season led to the Reds recording the lowest number of hits (390) by a team in the modern era (since 1901). Their batting average of .212 was the lowest in MLB since the 1910 Chicago White Sox hit .211.
Offseason
Coaching Staff
October 24, 2019: Named Alan Zinter hitting coach. Zinter was previously the Assistant Director of Player Development, Offense, for the San Francisco Giants the past two seasons.
December 17, 2019: Named Joe Mather assistant hitting coach. Mather was previously the Minor League Field and Hitting Coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Signings
December 2, 2019: Signed free agent Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract. Moustakas played second and third base for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019 and is expected to play second base for the Reds.
December 16, 2019: Signed free agent starting pitcher Wade Miley to a two-year, $15 million contract.
January 6, 2020: Signed Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a three-year, $21 million contract. Akiyama will be the first Japanese-born player to play for the Reds, who were the last team to have never had one play for them.
January 10, 2020: Agreed to one-year contracts with the following players, avoiding arbitration: starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, $17.5 million; reliever/outfielder Michael Lorenzen, $3.725 million; reliever Matt Bowman, $865,000; catcher Curt Casali, $1.4625 million; starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, $5.9 million.
January 27, 2020: Signed free agent Nicholas Castellanos to a four-year, $64 million contract.
January 30, 2020: Signed free agent reliever Pedro Strop to a one-year, $1.825 million contract.
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
