Monday, April 07

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds will break camp in just a few days and head home after Sunday's final spring game in Arizona. Are they ready for the season? 

How Cincinnati plays come Opening Day on March 27 -- and the 161 games that follow -- will provide that answer. In the meantime, here are some thoughts about what I've seen and heard over the past six weeks.

Kudos

1. Good health (mostly)

The players who missed a lot or all of 2024 have looked physically fit and have mostly performed well. That includes Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Nick Lodolo.

It's especially good for Cincinnati to not only have McLain's bat back in the lineup after shoulder left surgery cost him all of last season, but his defense at second base should be a big upgrade from Jonathan India and others who played there in 2024. 

2. Jose Trevino

Even before he was pressed into regular playing time with Tyler Stephenson injured, Trevino had quickly become a clear leader inside the clubhouse and on the field. The example he is setting should filter to the younger players. Look no further than this past week. The day after Trevino needed X-rays to evaluate his injured right thumb, he wanted to play. On Sunday, one day after getting a follow-up CT scan (negative for fractures), he was on the field doing drills -- and he played in the game on Monday.

3. Austin Hays

Another new example-setter with veteran experience, Hays has impressed with both his bat and his defense in left field. Expect to see him batting fourth during the season. If his down year in 2024 because of myriad bad health issues was just a blip on his career, Hays could be in for a big rebound year in ‘25 -- and at $5 million for this season, it would be a bargain for the team.

4. Elly De La Cruz

It's only spring but it's certainly a good sign that De La Cruz is getting his hits and hitting the ball hard -- especially during the early weeks when he wasn't entirely locked in. He has had nearly as many walks as strikeouts this spring. With his skills and natural ability, he remains always capable of doing something that wows on the field.

Concerns

1. The offense

During Monday's 3-0 loss to the Guardians, the Reds notched only one hit. Granted, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee is no slouch, and some Cincinnati regulars had the day off, but the club is ranked near the bottom this spring in team average -- and it’s way back in home runs and OPS. 

The Reds, who did not sign or trade for a big difference-making bat in the offseason, are also faced with opening the season without two of their more dependable hitters in Stephenson (left oblique) and Spencer Steer (right shoulder). While Stephenson will definitely start on the injured list, the club is giving Steer every chance to avoid that outcome. But Steer hasn't played in a game since Feb. 27, and it's hard to see him getting enough at-bats before the season to be ready.

2. Alexis Díaz

Although he saved 28 out of 32 games last season, Díaz was often shaky in his appearances as he struggled to locate and throw strikes -- especially in the first half. He has shown no signs in camp of being close to locked in, and Saturday's disastrous appearance vs. the Royals was particularly alarming. Díaz allowed five earned runs off three hits and three walks in just one-third of an inning. That included one walk with the bases loaded. 

The Reds added relievers with closing experience in Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers, and both could be turned to if Díaz can't do the job. Tony Santillan could also be an attractive option to close.

3. Rotation's fifth spot

Andrew Abbott was delayed getting into games after missing the final six weeks of last season with a left shoulder strain. He made his spring debut on Monday, tossing three innings against Cleveland, and looked OK in the process. Still, manager Terry Francona has basically said everything must fall into place perfectly for Abbott to be deemed ready to begin the regular season on time. Carson Spiers has shown everybody that he is worthy of the fifth spot (and if not, the final bullpen spot), while Graham Ashcraft has fared poorly in a couple of his starts.  

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When Taylor Rogers was traded to the Reds from the Giants in late January, it marked an opportunity for the reliever to return to Cincinnati. 

“I spent the summer of 2009 in Cincinnati playing for Midland," Rogers said. "I was thinking about wrapping it back around towards that.”

Midland is an amateur team based in Batavia, Ohio, which is where Rogers also lived that summer with a host family. He grew up in Littleton, Colo., and then played college baseball at Kentucky.

“That was my first time leaving home, so it was obviously a different circumstance," Rogers said. "Colorado, at that time, we didn’t really have a summer league post-high school. It wasn’t that evolved yet. I was going to Kentucky at the time, so it was just trying to get out here to play some ball before the fall.”

Rogers, 34, is the twin brother of Giants reliever Tyler Rogers. It wasn't easy for them to part ways following the trade.

“Leaving my nephews was my immediate thing," Taylor said.

Alas, both Rogers brothers will be together again -- albeit on opposite sides -- since San Francisco opens the season against the Reds. Their family will be on hand to watch.

"Obviously, I knew that Opening Day was going to be like that," Rogers said. “Wouldn’t you know it, all the family wants to come and get into the midst of the chaos there. Everybody has been pretty good with trying to help set things up. Obviously, [Opening Day] is a big deal, so trying to get a bunch of family in is challenging.”

• Outfielder Jacob Hurtubise has made a fine showing in camp for a roster spot and is "at peace" with whatever happens.

• Sal Stewart was among the Reds prospects who stood out in Sunday's Spring Breakout game.

• The pitching matchup is set for the Reds' Opening Day showdown against the Giants.

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