Cincinnati Reds Make Call To Arms For Spring Training

Unfortunately for the Cincinnati Reds and 28 other major league teams, Clayton Kershaw will not be in training camp when pitchers and catchers report on February 14.

The Reds did invite five pitchers to compete for spots on the club as non-roster players.

LHP Jeff Francis, RHP Tim Crabbe, RHP Drew Hayes, RHP Michael Lorenzen and RHP Robert Stephenson were invited.

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Francis was the last pitcher left out of the Reds' 2012 rotation that made every start during the team's run to the Central Division title.  Francis exercised his option to become a free agent and signed with the Colorado Rockies in mid season.  The native of British Columbia was the Rockies first pick in the 2002.  He made 12 starts last season for Colorado. He was 3-5 with a 6.27 ERA.  He pitched well in the spring of 2012 for Cincinnati and nearly made the rotation.  The recent free agent signee will get another chance this spring.

The 25-year old Crabbe was the Reds' pick in the 14th round of the 20089 draft.  The Tucson, Arizona native made 26 starts for Pensacola and Louisville last season with a combined 7-9 record with a 3.06 ERA.

Hayes, the pride of  McKenzie, Tennessee, was invited to the Reds' major league camp last season.  He was chosen by the Reds out of Vanderbilt University where he was a teammate of the Braves' Mike Minor and the Reds' Nick Christiani.  The 11th round choice worked exclusively out of the Pensacola bullpen last season.  Hayes posted 4-3 record with two saves on a 5.43 ERA in 2013.

Lorenzen also played outfield for Cal State Fullerton last season before the Reds plucked him in the first round (supplemental pick) last summer.  Even in the short season, the hard-throwing 6'3" 180 pound athlete pitched at four levels in the Reds organization last season, Arizona Rookie League, Dayton, Bakersfield and Pensacola.  He appeared in 22 games, starting one.  Lorenzen was 1-1 with an even 3.00 ERA with four saves.

Stephenson is coming hard and has an outside shot to make the Reds' rotation.  Stephenson is just 20.  He was taken in the first round of the 2011 draft out of Alhambra High School in Martinez, California.  Stephenson rose three levels last season starting at Dayton where he made 14 starts and was 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA.  He injured his hamstring while turning in a 4-0 record over six starts with an 0.93 ERA.  He walked just five and struck out 50 in the 38.2 innings prior to the setback.  Stephenson made four starts at Bakersfield with a 2-2 record and a 3.07 ERA, then was promoted again to make four more starts at Pensacola.  He was 0-2 with a 4.86 ERA for the Blue Wahoos at Pensacola.

Read more about Stephenson   http://fullofschatz.blogspot.com/2013/07/robert-stephenson-back-in-action-in.html

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