Andrew Abbott Pitches Noelvi Marte Hits Reds To Win Over Milwaukee Brewers

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Andrew Abbott made his fourth Cactus League start on Wednesday (031126) against the Milwaukee Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark.

Abbott gave up a two-run home run to Gary Sanchez in the first inning. He pitched 3/2/3 innings without allowing another run. He allowed six hits a two walks with five strikeouts. Altogether it was better than his last two outings in which he gave up four runs each.

Abbott was cognizant of the fact he hadn't pitched a scorless inning until today.

"I think I'm getting back to pitching the way I want to during the season. Props to Gary (Sanchez) he hit a cutter. I'm still working on it but it didn't do what I wanted it to do and that's going to happen," Abbott said. "I don't like walking people ever but that's going to happen. I was able to work around it. My timing was better. My pitch execution was better. It was in the strike zone."

"I hadn't had a single zero in the score column in a single inning. I  was joking with Tito. I told him it was good to see at least one in there."

Abbott reported both his curve and slider were good as well as his change up.

"I thought he (Abbott) got better as he went," Terry Francona said. "He pulled some fastballs but he did get better which was really good."

Noelvi Marte had trouble with the Arizona sky all spring. Today he made two above average catches in right field. It was the topic of discussion before the game.

"How about that? It was good. That was exciting for us. He got back on the real good play in the outfield. He took some really good swings off lefties," Francona said.

Marte for some reason had trouble hitting left handed pitching last year. It put the Reds in a bind because the are a left handed dominate lineup. They need a bat to punish lefties.

Marte homered off left hander, Robert Gasser the Milwaukee Brewers' starter. He doubled in a run against Jesus Broca.

Matt McLain hit his fifth home run of the spring in the first inning. He added two singles and is now hitting a whopping .607 with an on-base-percentage of .667 and a slugging percentage of 1.846. The second baseman had an off year at the plate last season.

"It's impressive," Abbott said of McLain. "We all know what the guy can do. I'm not surprised at all. I saw him play in college. I saw him when he came up with me in 2023. The guys a gamer."

Jose Trevino hit a home run in three at bats and is hitting .316 this spring.

The Reds as a team have hit 35 home runs this spring. The hit 29 all last spring. They struck out nine times against the Brewers to bring the total to 125 in 17 games. The only team with fewer strikeouts this spring in the New York Mets with 124 but they have only played 15 games.

Tough Choices In Reds Outfield

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Reds will have to figure things out in the outfield. 

"There are a lot of options right now," Terry Francona said. "We have to figure some things out. We're not there yet. We have some figuring to do, which is a good thing."

The group is talented and athletic. The sun and sky in Arizona makes this a tough place to play outfield.

"We want Marte to be a really good outfielder because if he is we're a better team. Saying that, he's got to be our best right fielder. I think that's the case for every where. I think he's capable. There is more to show. He's capable of it."

Marte has had some troubles in the field this spring. His offense has been ok. He played nine games so far, hitting .231 but has three doubles and a home run in 27 plate appearances.

"Number one this is a hard place to play outfield. If you're going to get exposed, it will happen here," Francona said. "Sometimes I think it is just paying attention to detail. Marte is pretty gifted athletically. That's why we felt good about him in the outfield. That's why he's way more comfortable there. Saying that it is more anticipating. When you're at third, you're ready for right now. In the outfield you can get flat footed and one ball comes to you and it could be the game. We have definitely tried to impress upon him that. You don't want guys to react, you want them to be proactive."

TJ Friedl is a veteran. A good defensive outfielder, who is just getting ready for the season, although they have put him in left field instead of his more familiar center field. Just to get him repetitions there to accommodate Dane Myers right handed bat.

"Myers is a good defender," Francona said. 

Myers has been in eight games, hit .375 with three doubles and a home run. He has drawn seven walks and been on bast at a .565 pace.

Will Benson has played all three outfield positions this spring.

Benson has played in 10 games, hit .280 with a double and four home runs. He has a .419 on-base-percentage. His strikeout rate is down. He has fanned five times in 25 at bats. For his career he struck out once every three at bats. This spring it is once every five.

"I think Benson has been tremendous," Francona said. "Like, probably, every outfielder, he's had a couple miscues but he's played all three. He's swung the bat really well. Will is never going to shortchange you on effort or being ready. He's always that guy who stays in for an extra at bat."

Besides Benson, Friedl, Myers and Marte, Rece Hinds, Blake Dunn and JJ Bleday are competing fiercely for a spot on the roster in the outfield. 

The numbers for them so far are:

JJ Bleday has a slash line of .286/.355/.536 with one double and two home runs in 10 games.

Rece Hinds slashed .400/.444/.920 in 14 games with two doubles, a triple and three home runs.

Blake Dunn hyper extended his left knee on Friday (030626) chasing a fly ball. He is expected back in a day or two. His slash line is: .172/.263/.412 in 10 games with a double and a home run.

"He plays good defense wherever you put him," Francona said.

Spencer Steer is playing first base against the Milwaukee Brewers and played at second base and left field. Francona will put him in right field for a couple of the remaining games.

Brandon Williamson Just Wants To Play While He Competes.Reds Score Big Shut Down Rockies

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Brandon Williamson made a strong case to join the starting rotation. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks. He struck out four.

Williamson struck out Tyler Freeman the leadoff hitter after a 10-pitch at bat.

He was more efficient from there.

"The first inning I rushed a little bit. I felt I threw a lot of strikes. The had a lot of good AB (at bats) where they fouled off a lot of pitches. In the second and third I went to pitches that would get early contact. That kind of made the game go along a little quicker," Williamson said. "I haven't pitched in a while. I just wanted to see what works, throw my stuff over the plate. I wanted to see what gets hit and what doesn't."

After a long layoff, Williamson is learning how his body reacts.

"I think I understand where things are at after each outing. I've been able to adapt really well. Health has been a big part of that," Williamson said.

Williamson now has an open door to compete for a start in the rotation. Since Hunter Greene will be out for 16 weeks.

"He looked good, a good pitch mix, changed speeds. That was good," Terry Francona said. "The first at bat against him was a hell of an at bat. He got a cutter by him and took off from there."

Williamson knows he has a chance but the injury to Greene isn't his focus.

"First off it's horrible what happened to Hunter," Williamson said. "I know he's a competitor. I think he's going to be a Cy Young guy for a long time. But it really doesn't change for me, really. I haven't played in so long. I really just want to play. Whether there was one spot, two spots or five, I feel like I'd react the same. I'm trying to be the best pitcher I can be every day."

Pierce Johnson, Hagen Danner, Luis Mey, Anthony Misiewicz pitched scoreless innings. Lyon Richardson pitched an inning and a third with two strikeouts. An unearned run scored in his stint due to a throwing error by top prospect Tyson Lewis at third base.

Trevor Kuncl finished Richardson's second inning. The St. Xavier High School grad finished Richardson's inning.

"I think across the board we pitched pretty good. It was fun to watch," Francona said. "DJ thinks he's kind of interesting. There was some talk we were going to bring him to camp but we thought we could pitch him enough. He's an interesting kid."

The Reds assaulted the Colorado Rockies pitchers.

TJ Friedl had three hits, including a three-run home run. P.J. Higgins hit a three-run home run off starter Ryan Feltner. Will Benson doubled and hit a solo home run. It was his fourth this spring. Jose Trevino had two hits.

The Reds now have 32 home runs this spring. They struck out 11 times against the Rockies. They came into the game with the fewest strikeouts in MLB with 105. Last spring the Reds totaled 29 home runs the entire spring and struck out 276 times.

Brandon Williamson Takes His Shot At Starting Rotation Against The Colorado Rockies

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The chance that Brandon Williamson has at a role in the Reds' starting rotation became less chancy with the announcement this morning that Hunter Greene will probably be on the shelf until July.

Williamson 15 months off surgery and Rhett Lowder also coming back from a lost year are two of the candidates for the two open slots.

Chase Burns is the other now that Chase Petty and Julian Aguiar have already been farmed out.

Williamson is expected to pitch three innings, an inning behind the others. Williamson has been good in his two prior spring effort. He pitched two innings against the Kansas City Royals on February 24, allowing two runs on three hits but no walks and four strikeouts. The 27-year old left hander, pitched against the Chicago Cubs on March 2, with two more innings fo hitless, scoreless baseball in which he walked one and struck out two.

The lineup behind Williamson is:

TJ Friedl DH

Sal Stewart 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday RF

Will Benson LF

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Jose Trevino C

Rece Hinds CF

PJ Higgins 3B

Luis Mey, Pierce Johnson, Lyon Richardson, Hagen Danner  and Anthony Misiewicz will follow. The latter three must win a roster spot.

Interesting young players are on the trip. 

Alfredo Duno, Steele Hall and Tyson Lewis will likely see some time in the field.

St. Xavier and Anderson Township citizen, Trevor Kuncl is also at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Hunter Greene Will Have Surgery On Wednesday

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Loose bodies in his right elbow will keep Reds ace Hunter Greene out until July.

Greene was examined in Los Angeles and by Dr. Timothy Kremchek and both concluded that arthroscopic surgery to be performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache was best.

Greene received a PRP hormone injection on October 28 and rest were prescribed but the condition didn't improve sufficiently enough for Greene to compete.

The 26-year old right hander the Reds first round pick in the 2017 draft showed signs of injury by his performance in his lone Cactus League outing against the Milwaukee Brewers on February 28.

He allowed four runs and got no one out in the first inning. Under spring training rules the Reds were allowed to take him out and put him back in for the second inning. His second inning was scoreless.

"We are hoping to have him back in 14-16 weeks or sometime around  July pitching in a Major League game," Nick Krall said. "It is definitely good news compared to what it could have been. The ligament is intact."

A repaired ligament would have kept him out for 16 months instead of 16 weeks. Greene had his ligament repaired in August 2018 and missed the entire 2019 season.

He returned in 2021 after Covid. Greene made his first big league start and appearance on April 10 in Atlanta, a 6-3 win. He pitched 7 1/3 innings of a combined no hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates with Art Warren. The Pirates scored the lone run in a 1-0 game without a hit.

The Reds have never had a full season out of Greene. He made a career-high 26 starts in 2024. He was 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA and 169 strikeouts, making the All-Star team.

"We are frustrated that he hasn't had a full season and he is probably frustrated too," Krall said. 

Greene pitched well last season. He made 19 starts and had a 2.76 ERA and 420 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings. He had a strained groin that kept him out from June 4 to August 13. Greene pitched a complete game shutout against the Chicago Cubs on September 18.

Greene reported to pitching coach Derek Johnson a little soreness and made his last start on September 24. Greene started the first game of the National League Wild Card series against the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers on September 30. He gave up five earned runs on six hits, including three home runs in three innings.

"I know he told DJ that he felt it a little but he always told me he felt fine. We, the trainers and everybody would never send someone out there, that we didn't think should be out there, ever," Terry Francona said. "Plus I liked the way he was pitching. It is hard sometimes, if you sat everyone who had a little soreness, you wouldn't have a team but you can't look inside some one's body."

Greene consulted with Dr. ElAttrache and had a PRP hormone injection to treat the elbow on October 28.

"He said he felt really good," Francona said before his spring training start. "He said about a week before spring training he felt it that's when we started to start to monitor his elbow."

The Reds saw signs in his Cactus League start.

"You could tell he was having trouble throwing his split (split finger fastball). He didn't throw his splitter at all. You could tell he was pulling his slider. It wasn't his fastball," Krall said.

The Reds now have two starting rotation spots open instead of one.

Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson, who himself is recovering from surgery and 15 months of rehab.

"We will miss him (Greene) there is no getting around that," Francona said. "We done a better job on our depth. We have guys coming back, like Williamson and (Julian) Aguiar. The younger guys are fighting for jobs. And it is just the way we feel about our group. They will go and compete. I don't see anyone, remotely feeling sorry for themselves. Every day you pick up your paper or your phone, there is a pitcher out. It is just the way the game is. We'll be ok."

Rhett Lowder Adjusts From Rough Start Finishes Strong

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Athletics jumped on Rhett Lowder for four runs in the first inning. A pair of singles and a pair of doubles around Matt McLain's fielding error set them up for three earned runs.

Lowder retired three straight batters to end the inning. A double play started by third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes ended the second frame.

Lowder finished with 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five runs, three earned on seven hits. He issued no walks and struck out four.

"I felt good. They came out swinging. I had to pitch backward. 

Matt McLain led off the Reds' first with a single and JJ Bleday launched his second home run of the spring, hitting against Jack Perkins.

Connor Phillips followed Lowder and gave up a two-run home run to Jeff McNeil on the first pitch.

Tejay Antone gave up three runs in 2/3 an inning. He gave up one run before he left on two walks and two hits before he left Jonathan Lavallee walked in two after he left.

Rece Hinds hit a three-run to keep the game close at 9-7.

McLain had two hits and a walk. He is hitting .560 this spring.

Rhett Lowder Against The Athletics In Goodyear

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Rhett Lowder is making his fourth Cactus League appearance against the Athletics on Thursday (03/09/26).

Lowder, coming off a lost season, is making a strong case for the opening day rotation. 

So far this spring he has pitched against. Cleveland, the LA Angels, and Cuba. Lower turned in eight innings, allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out 10.

The lineup behind him:

Matt McLain SS

JJ Bleday DH

Spencer Steer LF

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Tyler Stephenson C

Will Benson  CF

Noelvi Marte RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

Garrett Hampson SS

McLain goes into the game with a .545/.615/.1.136 slash line. He hit a double and four home runs in eight games. He has 11 RBI, including six in one game against the Chicago Cubs on March 2.

Although spring training stats are meaningless, as Terry Francona said, "If you look at statistics, it could cause you to make mistakes."  

Still the Reds lead all MLB teams with 27 home runs at the same time they have the fewest strikeouts with 98. The Detroit Tigers are second lowest with 105. 

Christian Encarnacion-Strand And Chase Petty Farmed Out

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Reds simplified its roster on Monday (030926).

Christian Encarancion-Strand and Chase Petty were optioned to Triple A, Louisville. Catcher Michael Trautwein, a non-roster invitee was reassigned to minor league camp.

Encarnacion-Strand had five hits, including two doubles in 15 at bats. He had problems fielding his third base position. 

"The big thing we talked to him about is, we're really not trying to turn him into an on base machine," Francona said. "If we can get him to swing at pitches over the plate that he can handle, he's so strong. He can go pole to pole. That's the goal."

"I thought he did a really good job of it this spring. I don't think there will be enough at bats. I told him it is way more fun to be in the Major League camp. I get it but for your career, go do your thing. He was good. He's in a really good place. He'll continue to work with the hitting guys. We reminded him that in the minor leagues, you can get away with things our of the zone that you can't up here. So stay on top of that."

Petty pitched two scoreless innings on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. 

"When he gets his breaking ball where he wants it, it is that weapon he needs, said manager Terry Francona after Petty's effort against the Padres. "There's a is a couple that when a ball comes out of his hand. You know its a ball out of his hand, so it is a non competitive pitch. But when he gets on top of it and gets down he's very effective."

Petty pitched four scoreless innings in two Cactus League games, allowing two hits and two walks. He struck out two.

"We reminded him. He got thrown a lot at him last year," Francona said. "He's young. This kind of spiraled at times I think. We said as quickly as it go that way (downhill) it can go the other way. He has a really good arm. He knows when he gets that breaking ball where he wants he can have success. That's really good."

Trautwein, 26, played 27 games between Dayton and Chattanooga last season. He hit .205 with three doubles and three home runs for the season. In Cactus League games he had one hit in seven at bats over six games.

Trautwein was selected in the 13thh round of the 2021 draft out of Northwestern University.

Chase Burns Finishes Strong After A Rough Start

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Chase Burns made an important start, his third of the spring. He is battling his buddy, Rhett Lowder, for the last starting pitcher's spot unless the injured Hunter Greene is slow to heal, in which case another spot is up for grabs. Brandon Williamson, who is scheduled to start on Tuesdy (031026) against the Colorado Rockies, is also pushing for a spot.

Williamson, a left hander, has more of an edge with more experience.

Burns was hit hard by the San Diego Padres on Sunday (030826) after allowing one run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings in his other two outings.

Padres center fielder, Jackson Merril, drilled a double in the first inning. Former Red Nick Castellanos walked. Gavin Sheets hit a long, three-run home run. 

Pablo Reyes singled and scored on a triple by Jake Cronenworth.

But Burns finished strong. He retired the six batters he faced, logging 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and a walk. He also struck out four, including two of the last three batters.

"I made an adjustment. I felt good and got into some bad counts. I fell behind (on Gavin Sheets). I got in a bad count and I kind of had to serve one up. I served one up to the wrong hitter." Burns said. 

Burns got Miguel Andujar to take a bad swing.

"It was a slider, I think," Burns said.

The young pitcher doesn't have the luxury of using the first turns in the rotation to just work on things that Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo have,

"I am still trying to make the team but I'm still working on a lot of stuff. I'm going out there to compete but still working on mechanics and my pitches," Burns said.

Terry Francona liked the way he rebounded after the rough start.

"When he worked ahead (in the count), he was just fine. When he fell behind, he gave up damage," Francona said. "That's been the message the entire time from our pitching guys. Still and he's a pup. The stuffs there and he understands it. As you see his execution improves, you're going to see those good innings."

Chase Petty with an outside chance to make the team, pitched two scoreless innings with two hits a walk and a strikeout.

"When he gets his breaking ball where he wants it, it is that weapon he needs. There's a is a couple that when a ball comes out of his hand. You know its a ball out of his hand, so it is a non competitive pitch. But when he gets on top of it and gets down he's very effective."

The Reds offense was quiet for six innings. Sal Stewart and Francisco Urbaez had harmless singles until Reds' top catching prospect lined a home run to left center field with a man on off Ethan Routzahn.

Zach Maxwell allowed an unearned run in which Duno had a throwing error and had trouble blocking pitches in the dirt. There were four or five pitches that perhaps Duno should have blocked.

Maxwell had his back when they came off the field. Francona reassured him too. Maxwell was charged with two wild pitches and Duno made a throwing error when he couldn't block a third strike pitch.

"I wanted him to know that he was ok. He had a tough time back there. And Duno taking that swing when he hit that home run and (Mason) Neville take that swing for me it was worth coming over here. I will tell you another thing that made my day. (Zach) Maxwell is trying to make the team. Maxwell grabbed them as they were coming off the field and put his arm around him. That was worth coming over here today. That tells me that we're moving in the right direction. I was so proud of him."

Neville took a good swing to drive the ball off the right field fence to score the final run in a 14-3 loss.

The Padres scored nine runs in the ninth.

Minor league pitchers Kevin Abel and Jared Lyons walked five batters in the inning. Abel had a wild pitch and Lyons had two in the ninth inning. Perhaps some of them should have been blocked.

Reds Split Up Take On Two Foes At One Time

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Reds take on both the Arizona Diamondbacks in Goodyear and the San Diego Padres in Peoria.

Two western division fes at once. That's how the west is won.

In Goodyear, Brady Singer, stretches out for the season with most of his offensive arsenal in the lineup. Chase Burns starting spot competition continues against the Padres. Players having his back has two projected starters. The Padres are more than capable of challenging the rookie starter. Chase Petty and Zach Maxwell have big league experience although limited experience.

Burns will take the mound with these players behind him:

Dane Myers CF

Noelvi Marte RF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

PJ Higgins 3B

Will Banfield C

Garrett Hampson SS

Francisco Urbaez 2B

Burns is up against..... Jake Cronenworth SS, Jackson Merrill CF, Miguel Andujar LF, Nick Castellanos 1B, Gavin Sheets DH, Ramon Laureano RF, Jose Miranda 3B, Luis Capusano C, Pablo Reyes 2B.

The opposing pitcher is RHP Logan Gillespie.

Brady Singer will be backed by:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Spencer Steer DH

Will Benson RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Christian Encarnacion-Strand 1B

Ke'Bryan Hays 3B

Rece Hinds LF