Three More Players Told They Won't Make The Reds Team

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Terry Francona informed Will Banfield, P.J Higgins and Garrett Hampson that they will not make the Reds team.

They are going to stay in camp and Higgins and Hampson will travel with the Reds to the last two spring training games in Milwaukee.

Banfield will stay in Arizona to get playing time in the minor league games.

"He needs to get the at bats," Francona said. "I told them they are not going to make the team. I told them if they want to go get some at bats (minor league games), I respect that. They are really good workers, good teammates. I told them they are welcome to stay here in big league camp. They all said they would and I am glad. Truth be told its not real glamorous to be up here. They have been on every road trip."

This reduces the number of candidates for the Major League team to 34, including Hagen Danner and Nathaniel Lowe, who are the only non-roster invitees left with a chance to make the team.

Caleb Ferguson will be out at least another week with a strained right oblique. Hunter Greene had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He will likely be placed on the Reds' 60-day injured list which opens a roster spot for a pitcher like Danner.

The Reds have not seen Kyle Nicolas, who they got in a trade for Tyler Callihan on March 4. He is with the Italian National Team in the World Baseball Classic. 

"We haven't seen this kid Nicolas," Francona said. "Not only that he hasn't pitched. He's thrown one inning. That's a big deal for us. You take pride to prepare better than other teams because if you did it would give you an advantage. We're dying to get to know him."

There are four players, who are out of options, they can't be sent to the minor leagues without clearing waivers. Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson, Sam Moll and Tony Santillan either make the team or could be snapped up by other teams on the waiver wire.