Baseball

Reds' Scooter Gennett honored by team after historic night

By Jason Romano Jun 19, 2017
Cincinnati Reds 2B Scooter Gennett. (Photo Courtesy: Scooter Gennett/Instagram @SGannett2)

What a ride it has been for Scooter Gennett in 2017.

In March, after playing four seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, Gennett was put on waivers. His MLB career came to a screeching halt.

But just as quickly as he was gone from Milwaukee, he was suddenly packing his bags for Cincinnati. The Reds had claimed the second baseman and on opening day in April, he showed the hometown fans that he was somebody to keep an eye on, after hitting a two-run home run in a loss to the Phillies.

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Baseball, like life, has its ups and downs, its normal days and its special days. And then there are days like June 6, when Gennett was starting at second base for the Reds and by the end of the night, had produced one of the greatest individual performances by a Major League Baseball player ever.

Gennett hit four home runs, the first Reds player to ever do so and only the 17th player in MLB history to ever go yard four times in a game. He also had five total hits and 10 RBI in that game, becoming the first player in the 148-year history of Major League Baseball to ever hit four home runs, have five hits and drive in 10 runners.

Gennett is a Christian and after his historic night, took to Instagram to thank God.

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“Thank you God for blessing me with the greatest moment of my career! Thank you to my family, teammates, reds organization and reds fans for all the love and kind words.”

Last week, Gennett was honored for his historic four home run night by winning National League Player of the Week honors, and on Friday night was presented with a very unique gift by his team: a scooter.

The gift was given out by former Reds pitcher Tom Browning, a member of the 1990 World Series team and another player who accomplished a rare feat for Cincinnati back in 1988, throwing the 12th perfect game in MLB history.

Gennett’s incredible night traces back to a time when he admittedly made baseball an idol and put his faith in Christ aside to pursue his MLB dream.

“I’ve been through some ups and downs,” Gennett said in 2015 when he was with the Brewers. “Without praying and without talking to God, I don’t think I would have gotten through.”

Gannett says his faith in God is a priority and that he never walks alone anymore.

“God’s with me wherever I go,” he told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “Whether it’s on the field or in the locker room, He’s always with me. It all points back to the love of Christ who has a purpose for my life.”

Through 55 games played, Gennett, in 143 at-bats, is batting .287 with eight home runs and 35 RBI to go along with 21 runs scored.