Rece Hinds is out to a good start in the Arizona Fall League. The outfielder missed time over the summer after breaking his hamate bone in June. Nearly two months later he returned for a rehab stint in the Arizona Complex League before getting back to Dayton and then earning a late-season call up to Double-A Chattanooga. With the time missed it made sense to send Hinds to Arizona to take part in the fall league and through four games he’s certainly seemed like he’s been making up for lost time. He had hit well over the first three games, but he kept it going on Saturday night with his first home run for Glendale.
The home run was the only hit that Rece Hinds had on the night, but he also drew a walk, scored two runs, drove in two runs, and he picked up his first steal of the season. The home run gives Hinds four extra-base hits thanks to the three doubles that he entered the day with. Hinds is now hitting .313/.421/.688 with three walks and six strikeouts.
Following the game Hinds spoke with my former partner in crime (we both used to cover the Reds together nearly a decade ago at a now defunct website) Jesse Borek for MLB.com. Hinds noted that over the last couple of weeks he’s been “Trying to work on my lower half and get my lower half more into my swing. Trusting my hands and just trusting my swing in general.”
Matt McLain also started in the game for the Desert Dogs. He would go 0-4 on the night, but drew two walks, stole a base, scored two runs, and he drove in another one.
Cincinnati was also represented by three pitchers on the night. Sam Benschoter got the start and threw 3.0 shutout innings while allowing three hits and a walk and striking out two batters. It was his second outing and his first start after throwing 2.0 shutout innings of relief in his first outing.
Things didn’t go as well in the high-scoring game for the other two Reds prospects. Vin Timpanelli was charged with one earned run and two unearned runs in an inning of work. Jake Gozzo was charged with three earned runs on three hits and two walks in his inning of work in Glendale’s 13-11 victory.