The Reds in search of a backup catcher signed 29-year old Aramis Garcia as a free agent in November. The Oakland Athletics released him in September.
Garcia hit three home runs for the A's in 88 at bats last season.
"I know him well from San Francisco," said David Bell, who spent a year in the Giants' player development department. "He was a top prospect for them but didn't get the opportunities but he's still the same player. I think he's in a good spot here. We're going to give him a good look. He's always been able to hit. I'm going to have J.R. (House) work with him on the catching side of things. The backup catching job is wide open. You never know what can happen."
On Saturday in the Reds' Cactus League contest against the team that released him, Garcia hit home runs in his first two at bats, the first came in the first inning in which the Reds scored seven runs.
The Reds first seven batters in the lineup were left handers, scheduled to face southpaw, Sean Manaea. The lefties took it too Manaea and fellow lefty Brian Howard. Six of the first seven hitters singled, including Mike Moustakas. Gacia and young Matt McLain were the only right-handed hitters in the Reds' lineup.
The seven-run first inning led to a 9-3 Reds' win.
McLain was the Reds' first pick in the 2021 draft out of UCLA. He walked after Garcia's first homer and singled sharply after Garcia's second bomb the which nearly hit the scoreboard past the berm in left center field.
The 22-year old looked quick and smooth, fielding a ball in the hole at shortstop and making a quick relay on a double play ground ball.
"You can tell what kind of player he is. He's played at a high level. The game seems really slow for him for such a young age. He seems unfazed," Bell said.
Jake Fraley, who was in the Winker/Suarez trade on Monday reached base three times with two singles and a walk.
Tyler Mahle started for Cincinnati and pitched a scoreless first inning.
"He look just like last season," Bell said. "That first inning got too long so we didn't send him back out."
Ben Lively, who returned to the Reds after an eight-year absence, allowed a run but struck out five batters of the last six batters he faced.
Jake Bauer also hit a home run for the Reds.
Oakland batter, Buddy Reed, had a strange at bat. His foul pop was dropped by third baseman Cristian Santana. He then struck out against Randy Wynne and catcher Chuckie Robinson threw the ball around the horn. The problem was Robinson's catch of the third strike was not clean and Reed took off for first base. He was thrown out 2-5-4-3.
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