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.