Reds Trim Roster By Six

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Reds in camp roster was reduced by six on Monday (030226). The non-roster invitees were re assigned to the minor league camp.

Catcher Connor Burns, who is the 24-year old fifth round pick of the Reds in the 2023 draft out of Long Beach State in California. He played 85 games at Dayton and Chattanooga, hitting .172 with 11 home runs.

Infielder Michael Chavis was re assigned. The 30-year old signed with the Reds on Chrismas Eve. He was the first pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2024 draft out of Strawberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. He has played in 357 big league games for Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington. Chavis has a .237 average with 41 doubles, seven triples and 42 home runs during his career. He last appeared in the Major Leagues with Washington in 2023, spending 2024 in the White Sox and Seattle minor league systems and played for Chunichi in Japan last year. So far this spring he seven of the eight games, hitting .273 in 11 at bats. He may still play in Cactus League games.

Infielder Cam Collier, the 21-year old, was drafted by the Reds in the first round of the 2022 draft. This was his second camp. He broke his left hand in the Cactus League last season but recovered to hit .279 in 96 games with Dayton and Chattanooga with 21 doubles a triple and four home runs. This spring Collier played in five games and had one hit in seven at bats. He played third base in the Cactus League and had trouble in the field. Collier was a long shot to make the team.

"He is one of the youngest players in Double A," Francona said earlier in camp. "Last season when he got hurt, we talked to him about turning a negative into a positive. He did a really good job with his body when he was down. We reminded him this morning to enjoy being young and embracing what's in front of you. We don't want him to be fixated on 'got to get to the next level.'  We reminded him about defense. When you get here (big leagues) you're not going to hit every day. When you don't, you've got to make plays or we're not going to win. He was good. We told him he could have the day off, he said no. I'm ready to go. I kind of like that."

RHP Carson Spiers made the starting rotation last season when Andrew Abbott was delayed for injuries. Spiers had surgery himself last season on his elbow. He is throwing long toss from 75 feet. 

"It was just a paper move. He is going to be working with Eric (Gonzalez, the Director of Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy), Francona said.

Infielder Michael Toglia, who signed a minor league contract on January 7. The 27-year old switch hitter was the Colorado Rockies first pick in the 2019 draft out of UCLA. The Phoenix native grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington. In four years with the Rockies, Toglia hit .201 in 280 games with 42 doubles, six triples and 42 home runs. His best season was in 2024 when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 55 runs. This spring, so far, Toglia played in all eight games with two singles in nine at bats.

"He is an interesting kid, switch hitter, really good kid," Francona said. "He's got some big power. We brought him in here because we want to work on some things with him. It's an early send out but I don't thing riding a bus to get one at bat is going to be the best way for him to find his swing. Let him go down before they start games. The messaging is going to be the same. Val (batting coach Chris Valaika) will keep working with him. Let him see if he can get back to the big leagues and help us. There is something in there. He was a high pick. He did it in Denver for awhile, then fell on hard times. Let him go find himself."

LHP Joel Valdez is a 25-year old prospect from El Seibo, Dominican Republic. He was selected from the New York Yankees in the minor league phase of the 2024 draft in 2024. Valdez pitched in Chattanooga and Louisville last season. He appeared in 35 games and was 2-1 with a 2.34 ERA. He struck out 67 batters and walked 25 in 57 2/3 innings. He has an impingement in his left shoulder and has not pitched this spring.