Hagen Danner Just Missed The Cut

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The last non-roster pitcher, Hagen Danner, was reassigned to minor league camp.

Danner was a tough decision and fell out of the running for the last spot in the Reds' bullpen.

The 27-year old from Huntington Beach, California was the second round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 as a catcher. He was converted to a pitcher in 2021.

The Reds signed Danner to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on January 7. He pitched in nine games this spring covering 8 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out 10.

Danner last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2023. He was in one game with Toronto and only pitched 1/3 an inning.

The Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers last January. He spent the season at Tacoma and put up a 6-4 record with a 5.59 ERA over 56 1/3 innings.

Terry Francona told Danner he was the highlight of the camp. He pitched that well but he was caught up in the numbers game. He was a non-roster and needed to be added to the 40-man for the Reds to bring him to Cincinnati.

The risk was too great for Reds' management.

"I called him in and told him that he wouldn't be added to the roster. I asked if he was ready to listen. Sometimes when players get bad news the aren't ready to listen, so you bring them back. He was great," Francona said. "He's an easy kid to root for."

"If you take a kid like that on opening day, then you run into a problem a week in, he understood," Francona said "He did nothing not to make the team. He was a 5.59 pitcher last year. He looked like he was a better pitcher than that."

The Reds also got Kyle Nicolas back in camp. He was on Team Italy and didn't pitch much.

Nicolas will pitch against the White Sox on Friday night in Goodyear. The Reds are going to option him but leave him in Arizona until he builds up innings.

"He is going to throw a side with DJ