GOODYEAR, Arizona – On Luis Castillo’s final pitch of the afternoon, he made infielder Alex Blandino swing and miss. Then he pumped his fist, smiled and walked off the field confident about his first simulated game of spring training.
Because of travel issues from the Dominican Republic in February, Castillo was the last Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher to arrive to spring training and the last one to appear in a game or a simulated game. But after striking out three hitters in two innings of an intrasquad scrimmage on Monday, Castillo said he will be ready to pitch in a spring training game this week.
“It was kind of tough getting here late, but we’re making good strides,” Castillo said through translator Jorge Merlos. “We’re making great timing, and everything is (about) getting prepared. We’re all getting prepared and ready for the season coming up.”
There were no runners and no fielders in Monday’s simulated game, but Castillo faced shortstop Jose Garcia, outfielder Scott Heineman, Blandino and catcher Rocky Gale. After he left the Reds' practice field, Castillo said he thought his first simulated game of the year went well.
“I was working on command of my pitches,” Castillo said. “It was my first live (batting practice), so I was just working around the zone and making sure I was getting everything ready.”
Castillo’s turn in the rotation will come up Friday, when the Reds face the Seattle Mariners. Castillo could pitch in three or four spring training games before Opening Day on April 1.
This year, Castillo said it doesn’t matter to him if he starts the first or the second game of the regular season.
“Those are all management’s decisions,” Castillo said. “But whoever starts, whether it’s Sonny (Gray) or myself, I’ve done it before, I’d be happy if either one of us started Opening Day.”
Noé Ramirez is 'bringing the funk': Even though relief pitcher Noé Ramirez had already made two game appearances this spring, he didn’t feel like he had thrown a good change-up or a great slider.
But in Monday’s simulated game, Ramirez showed why those have been two of his best pitches. Ramirez struck out three batters at the Goodyear complex and threw one inning.
“It’s pretty much tuning up for the year,” Ramirez said. “During these times, the first couple outings are all about feel, especially with me. I’m pretty erratic with my mechanics, so it takes me a little bit to really get dialed in again.”
Of all the Reds pitchers in camp, Ramirez stands out. Most of Cincinnati’s pitchers throw fastballs in the mid or high-90s, but Ramirez’s average fastball last season was 88.7 mph.
Ramirez allowed four runs in his first two innings of spring training, but he felt like he took a step in the right direction on Monday with his off-speed pitches looking better.
“I get assurance from our hitters and hitters throughout the league that I’m really funky,” Ramirez said. “I throw 89 to you, but it actually comes out and looks like it’s close to mid-90s. I take advantage of my pitching mechanics and my style.”
No platoon prep for Barnhart and Akiyama: Last season, catcher Tucker Barnhart and outfielder Shogo Akiyama mostly started against right-handed pitchers. But in this year’s spring training, it’s been a focus for both left-handed hitters to get more at-bats against lefties.
Akiyama and Barnhart got extra reps on their off day in a simulated game. They faced left-handed pitcher Brandon Finnegan, who continued his strong start to the spring.
Finnegan struck out three hitters, including Barnhart and Akiyama, in 1⅓ innings.
Mike Moustakas working on his glove: While many Reds players were on their way to play a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies, Mike Moustakas was going through an extensive workout in the infield at the complex in Goodyear.
Since Moustakas didn’t make the trip to face the Rockies, along with most of the Reds starters, he spent time on a back field working on his defense.
And many of those reps came at third base.
Moustakas was a third baseman for the first nine seasons of his career before signing with the Reds, who have Eugenio Suárez at that position. Moustakas has only played second base in spring training games and played the position almost all of 2020. But on Monday, he was staying fresh at third, where he played two of his 44 games last season.
Remembering Rheal Cormier: Former Reds pitcher Rheal Cormier, who played for the team in 2006 and '07, died on Monday of pancreatic cancer. Cormier pitched in 27 games with the Reds and ended his playing career in Cincinnati.
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