Meet The Reds Newcomers

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The Reds will have three new faces and one that is familiar to Dayton fans, who will make the Opening Day roster for the first time.

Phil Gosselin, Cliff Pennington, Kevin Quackebush have spent their time in pro baseball in other organizations.  Phillip Ervin is a product of the Reds’ draft and minor leagues.

Gosselin beat out Brandon Dixon and Alex Blandino for the utility role.

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The 29-year old played in 256 big league games with Atlanta, Arizona, Pittsburgh and Texas.  He is a .270 career hitter and .306 this spring.  He has 132 pinch hit appearances with a .244 batting average and one home run. Gosselin has played all four infield positions, mostly second base, left field and right field.

“Gosselin has a good short repeatable swing that plays well off the bench.  He won’t need a lot of playing time to find his stroke,” Price said.

Gosselin hit .244 in 22 games this spring.

“I started out good but then I got lost for a week,” Gosselin said.  “I’ve been hitting better again lately.”

The Reds chose Gosselin for his experience coming off the bench.  “Gosselin was a guy we’ve been trying to get for the last two or three years because he was so good against us when he was with Atlanta,” Price said.  “He fits the role.  If you need him to play second or third or left field, I’m comfortable with that.  He gives a good at bat against a left or right-handed pitcher.  He hits the better guys late in the game.”


Pennington can play multiple positions but shortstop is his stock in trade.  The 33-year old was the Oakland Athletics top pick in 2005.  He signed with the Reds on February 15 after spending two years with the Angels backing up Andrelton Simmons.  Pennington is a switch hitter with a career .243 average in 955 games over his 10-year career.

“He is good for our young players to be around.  We have a lot of young players.  We have a lot of young pitchers in our starting rotation,” Price said.  “The leadership quality he brings are more important to us than the physical attributes.”

Pennington hit .205 in 19 games this spring.  He played a lot of second base and third base this spring.

Ervin gives the bench a speed component.

“Ervin can be an early bench bat, steal a base, score from first on a double, that kind of thing,” Price said.  “That in and of itself isn’t enough.  There are not a lot of at bats for Phil (Ervin).  I will do my best to get him enough at bats so he can be productive.”

Ervin was the Reds first pick in the 2013 draft. He completes his five-year climb to the Reds’ with the role of  fifth outfielder.

The 25-year old can play good defense in all three outfield position, giving Price the flexibility of three players, who can cover center field.

Ervin hit .237 as a Dayton Dragon in 2014 which was consistent with his other seasons in the organization.  He hit .242 with Daytona in 2015 and .239 with Pensacola in 2016.

Last season Ervin hit .256 at Louisville. He did slightly better with a .259 average in 28 games with the Reds.  He hit three home runs for the Reds.  Ervin has stolen 30 or more bases three times in pro ball.  He had 23 at Louisville last year and four with the Reds.

“I like him a lot, ” Price said earlier this spring.  “He did a nice job for us.  I think he will be an every day outfielder in the big leagues.”



Quackenbush made the team and will bolster the bullpen.  The right-hander, who struggled last season in San Diego, made the team as a non-roster invitee.  Quackenbush has four years of Major League experience. He made at least 56 appearances from 2014-2016,  made just 20 appearances last season.  He was 0-2 with  a 7.86 ERA.

“Off the radar, Quackenbush has pitched very well,” Price said.  “He is not overpowering but has good deception.  He keeps the ball down with a good mix of breaking pitches.”

Quackenbush did not give up an earned run until his last appearance this spring in which he allowed three.  It was a relief to him that he made the team.

“I had a lot of help in the off-season from a couple different guys,” Quackenbush said.  “Steve Ontiveras was a big help with my curveball.  The big thing I wasn’t trying to overthrow.  It worked out pretty well.  It was a relief when they told me yesterday.  I was ecstatic.  The last outing made the news very nice to hear.  It was a tough walk off the mound.  Knowing it was my last walk off the mound, made it harder.  It was rewarding to hear that I made it.”