Ken Griffey Jr.’s 2000 season marked the beginning of a new chapter—and it came with both excitement and adjustment.

After a decade with the Seattle Mariners, Griffey was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, fulfilling a desire to play closer to home. The move brought huge expectations, as fans hoped “The Kid” would continue his dominance in the National League.

The season in short

Griffey’s numbers were still strong:

• .271 batting average

• 40 home runs

• 118 RBIs

• 100 runs scored

He made an immediate impact, reaching the 40-homer mark for the sixth time in his career, proving his power translated leagues.

Adjustments and challenges

While the power remained elite, 2000 also hinted at changes:

• His batting average dipped compared to his peak Seattle years

• Strikeouts were high (career-high at the time)

• He was adapting to new pitchers, parks, and pressure

It wasn’t quite the effortless dominance fans were used to in the 90s, but he was still one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

Big picture

The 2000 season is often remembered as:

• A successful but transitional year

• The last season Griffey would play 140+ games until later in his career

• The start of a period where injuries would begin to impact his consistency

Even so, a 40-HR, 118-RBI season would be a career year for most players—just not by Griffey’s incredibly high standard.