The baseballs were already under assault in early batting practice when David Bell began a search for parking on the day pitchers and catchers reported to the Reds’ complex in Goodyear, Arizona.
There are more position players who reported early as the Reds decided to condense their workouts leading into opening day on March 26.
“Players showing up early can be eyewash a lot of times; guys getting out of the weather at home or wanting to get on the field for the first time,” Bell said. “but having said that there are a lot of guys here early, I can feel the excitement. You can say that every spring but you know when it feels different. You look at the clubhouse and see it is full. It looks like a regular workout day.“”
The Reds were busy during the off season. They signed infielder Mike Moustakas, outfielders Travis Jankowski, Nick Castellanos and Shogo Akiyama.
From the pitching side, the Reds signed left handed starter, Wade Miley, who pitched for the Houston Astros last season and Milwaukee in 2018. The Reds added Tyler Thorburg and Pedro Strop. Both righthanders have experience in the National League Central, Thornburg pitched with Milwaukee. Strop was a quality relief pitcher and sometimes closer the last six seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
All of the new players are in camp.
With the newer players augmenting the core from last season, the Reds lost Jose Iglesias and Alex Wood to free agency. Iglesias was signed during spring training last season. Wood, who was injured most of the season, came to the Reds in the big trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kyle Farmer, who played multiple roles off the bench for the Reds is the only player from that trade left. Wood, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig are all gone.
The Reds have raised the expectations of the Cincinnati fans with the acquistions and Bell feels that.
“The expectations are higher. That’s the way it should be. We felt the momentum at the end of last season,” Bell said. “What we’re feeling in the clubhouse is the excitement with the moves that we made in the off season.”
Eugenio Suarez, who had a monster season in which he hit 49 home runs, had loose cartilage removed from his right shoulder January 28. He had an accident in a swimming pool. Nick Senzel had a torn labrum repaired in his right shoulder on September 24.
“The last report I had on Suarez was very encouraging,” Bell said. “He’s responding really well to treatment. We don’t know when he will be ready but it is looking more and more like he realistically will be ready for opening day. If ir doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. He is very postitive that it will happen. Nick Senzell is on a throwing program. He is hitting and running the bases. He is on target for opening day.”
Bell is familiar with Strop. He was a coach with the Cubs when Strop came from
Baltimore.
“Miley and Moustakas were players on winning players on good teams,” Bell said. “They are good teammates. I spent time with Miley and his family but most of what I know about him as a pitcher comes from D.J. (pitching coach Derek Johnson). I spent time with Castellanos. He is a leader. I can’t wait to see Shogo. He is a quality person. There is something behind all that success. It is exciting to have him.”
The Reds are starting camp a little later than most teams. The pitchers will get the same amount of time but the posistion players report four days before Cactus League games begin. Even so many are here already.
“I encourage early arrival but there is a tendency to pace yourself. We will be here 40 days. It is all designed around getting pitchers ready. The challenge to the players is to come in ready,” Bell said.
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