Austin Hays Crushes Walk-Off Homer, Leads Orioles to Thrilling Win—Watch the Viral Highlights

CINCINNATI — Austin Hays is proving that good health and a change of scenery can reboot a career. One year after an injury-marred cameo with the Philadelphia Phillies, the 30-year-old outfielder has become a linchpin of the Cincinnati Reds’ 2025 playoff push, entering this week’s series against the Miami Marlins slashing .281/.353/.500 with seven home runs and an .853 OPS in 63 games. Healthy at last Hays’ 2024 season was derailed by a left hamstring strain, a calf issue and a frightening kidney infection that landed him in the hospital. Those setbacks limited him to 21 starts in Philadelphia and led the Phillies to non-tender him over the winter. The Reds pounced with a one-year, $5 million deal, betting that the former All-Star talent who once posted an .800-plus OPS in Baltimore could resurface once his body cooperated. So far, Cincinnati’s gamble looks like a bargain. Hays has started 59 of the club’s last 60 games, stabilized left field for manager Terry Francona and posted the National League’s sixth-best hard-hit percentage since June 1. “I still feel like I’ve got a lot of really good years in me as an everyday player,” Hays said before belting an RBI double on July 4 that helped sink his ex-team. All-Star chatter With fan voting closed, insiders project Hays as a dark-horse reserve for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta thanks to elite outfield defense (7 Defensive Runs Saved) and a .327 average with runners in scoring position. A selection would cap a comeback for a player who spent 38 games on the injured list last season after fouling a ball off his foot in Kansas City. What changed in Cincinnati? • Consistent playing time: Hays has logged 263 plate appearances, already surpassing last year’s total. • Ball-in-air approach: His average launch angle is up to 14.6°, fueling a career-best 40 percent pull-side fly-ball rate. • Francona’s trust: The veteran skipper keeps Hays slotted second against lefties and fifth versus righties, maximizing platoon advantages. Trade-deadline dominoes Hays’ resurgence also shapes the market. The Reds are reportedly seeking late-inning bullpen help, but league sources insist the club has “no intention” of flipping Hays, who is controllable through arbitration in 2026. That stance forces contenders such as the Phillies, Yankees and Dodgers — all hunting right-handed outfield bats — to look elsewhere. What’s next? The Reds open a pivotal seven-game homestand Monday night, and Hays is expected to face Marlins ace Eury Pérez. If the former third-round pick keeps barreling fastballs at a 58 percent clip, he could enter August not just as a feel-good story but as a central figure in the National League Wild Card race. Key search phrases to watch Austin Hays stats 2025, Austin Hays injury update, Austin Hays Reds contract, Austin Hays All-Star chances, Cincinnati Reds playoff odds.