JJ Bleday Looks to Build on 2026 Season With Cincinnati Reds

JJ Bleday put together a ho-hum 105 OPS+ season for the 2026 Cincinnati Reds, posting a .217 batting average, 1.2 bWAR, and a .217/.324/.416 slash line across 545 plate appearances. Acquired for $1.4 million with team control remaining, Bleday was the NL Player of the Month in May before an extreme fly-ball profile and a league-worst .216 BABIP from June onward cooled him off. The Reds believe there is significant upside remaining as he enters his age-29 season heading into 2027.