Adam Duvall is trying to finish his first full season with the Cincinnati Reds like he started.
The Reds’ slugger had a first-half worthy of an All-Star selection and a spot in the Home Run Derby. His first half numbers included 26 home runs, 61 RBI and an .830 OPS.
But Duvall has scuffled in the second half. He’s hitting just .230 and has just four home runs since the All-Star break. He slugged .551 in the first half but just .448 so far in 24 second-half games.
The overall drop in production in the second half for Duvall correlates to his move to cleanup in the batting order. In 17 games at cleanup, Duvall is hitting just .206 with a .737 OPS. He has three homers in 74 plate appearances batting cleanup.
Duvall has improved one statistic in the second half. He has a .337 OBP since the break, even though his batting average has dropped.
Duvall may be on the verge of picking his production back up. He was 3-for-4 with a home run in his last game. Overall on the year, Duvall is hitting .245 with an .828 OPS. He now has 27 homers and 75 RBI on the season.
Duvall has been one bright spot in another Reds’ dismal season. The future looks a little less bleak with Duvall under club control for the next five years.
His eventual position remains to be seen. Duvall has started 94 games in left field this year, but prospect Jesse Winker seems to be a better fit in left field for the Reds’ future.
Duvall’s strong arm and surprising athleticism makes him a better fit in right than Winker. Still, Winker has split time at the corners in Triple-A this year, making 46 starts in left field and 31 in right.
Winker will get the call to join the Reds in September when the active roster expands to 40 players. Any lineup other than Duvall and Winker at the outfield corners at that time would be a waste.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
The post Adam Duvall is trying to regain All-Star form with Cincinnati Reds appeared first on OutsidePitchMLB.