Ken Griffey Jr.

By Heath Bloxton
When you think of Cincinnati Reds baseball, you will think of the Big Red Machine of the 70s, and names such as Pete Rose and Johnny Bench. Fans from today’s generation may even bring up names such as Barry Larkin or Adam Dunn. However, the 2005 superstar for the Reds is a name fans have not been used to seeing in the everyday lineup in the last few years. The sad thing is that this guy has been with the club for six years now. When you hear this player’s name, a single word may come to mind: injury! Yes, this player is Ken Griffey Jr.

Ever since Griffey arrived in Cincinnati in a trade from Seattle, Jr. has been injury-prone almost every season. He has become more of an uppercut hitter, and doesn’t drive the ball to all parts of the field. However, 2005 seems to be Griffey’s “rejuvenation year”. His 500-plus home runs have been overshadowed by his injuries and this year, Jr. seems to be back to where he was before he was traded…healthy!

As of August 31, Griffey has hit 33 home runs and is batting .301 with a slugging percentage at .575. Should Griffey continue this consistent streak, Cincinnati fans could be looking not only at future hall-of-famer, but maybe even another World Series Trophy!