The first full slate of Cactus League games start today (February 25) when the Reds' meet the Cleveland Guardians in the opener.
The Reds lost 102 games last year but manager David Bell was eager to start a full schedule of training with new faces and new rules.
"It's great being here it is just a reminder of how we love doing this," Bell said. "There are no shortcuts. We have to dive into the six weeks of camp. The expectations are always the same. It is to win each and every moment and compete."
Joey Votto is taking batting practice. He will likely start slowly during the Cactus League after a pair of surgeries. Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer will get some time at first base. The Reds brought back Curt Casali and Luke Maile to backup Stephenson, who is healthy and will get time at first base and DH.
Jonathan India shed 25 pounds after gaining weight before camp last season.
"I thought the extra weight would help me hit with more power," India told the Reds' Hot Stove League. "Maybe it contributed to my injuries. I feel better now."
India missed 48 games with a hamstring injury in his encore to his Rookie of the Year 2021 season.
A week of internal competition is in the books. Today they start to test themselves against others with left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson starting agaist the Guardians and right-handed Cal Quantril.
The Reds have three talented you pitchers, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft. Williamson, who was Lodolo's teammate at Texas Christian University. Was a late addition to major league camp and is expected to compete for one of the two openings in the starting rotatation. Another is Luke Weaver, who will start against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Greene will go on Monday against the Texas Rangers on Monday. The rest of the spring rotation is to be determined.
Weaver, Luis Cessa, Connor Overton will compete with Williamson for the two open spots in the rotation. Justin Dunn, who was injured until August 8 when he started against the New York Mets and Levi Stoudt, who like Dunn came from the Seattle Mariners organization, are also in the mix. Stoudt was in the trade for Luis Castillo on July 29. He was competing for a spot in the Mariners starting rotation a year ago.
Cessa came out of the bullpen to make 10 starts (1-3, 4.30 ERA). He will be competing for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
Overton made four effective starts for the Reds before he was sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back. He was 1-0 with a sparkling 1.82 ERA.
Weaver has started 81 games for St. Louis and Arizona since 2016 but made just one start among 26 appearances last season between Arizona and Kansas City.
The Reds are looking for a shortstop, third baseman and a center fielder while Nick Senzel continues to mend. Veteran Kevin Newman will be a key to stabilizing the left side of the Reds' infield. Jose Barrero finished the season at shortstop but Ely De La Cruz, the Reds' top prospect, will likely start in Triple A and Matt McLain will try to nail down the shortstop position.
TJ Friedl, Stuart Fairchild, Jake Fraley, Will Benson, Mike Siani will try to join the injured Nick Senzel and Wil Myers in the outfield mix.
The key is the Reds three youthfull starters, who pitching coach Derek Johnson compares to the Braves trio of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux. The comparison is apt although Steve Avery was among the three starters that solidified the Braves rotation. Maddux came later.
The Braves lost 106 games in 1988. The Reds lost 102 last season. The Braves lost 97 games in 1989 and 1990 before starting their run of Division titles in 1991. The Reds pitchers are now aware of those expectations.
"The three of us talk about being the core, everyday," Greene said. "Last year DJ got us together and brought up the Braves. Looking at us in that light is pretty special. Having the friendship but also the competitiveness is exciting. The chemistry couldn't be better."
Lodolo was too young to remember the Braves to get the comparison.
"To be honest I've only seen highlights. I didn't know what they threw. DJ talked to us about it. That's how he wants us think about us," Lodolo admited.
Ashcraft thrives on the internal competition.
"One of our main goals is to make sure we're a unit and staying together," Ashcraft said. "One way to have success is to root for each other but to hold each other accountable. We haven't really hit that point where someone says you have to do this and that. We're still feeling it out and taking baby steps. This is just our second season so we don't have roles yet within our group."
Overall the Reds have raw talent that Bell and his staff intend to mold into a winner within a year or two.
Hall of Famer, Barry Larkin, was working with the young players on the practice fields Wednesday.
"There is a lot of talent here," Larkin said. "I like the way they are going about their work. Their effort has been solid."
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