GOODYEAR, Ariz. – David Bell admits he never looked forward to the length of spring training as a player, believing it was a tad too long, and he thought the same thing in his first few years as the Cincinnati Reds’ manager.
Last year changed his mind.
It was a condensed three-week camp because of a lockout, about half the normal length, and the spring training sprint swallowed the Reds. There was almost a new roster move each day, including some trades that devastated the clubhouse. It’s not a coincidence they started with a 3-22 record, the worst in team history.
“After last season, we need this time,” Bell said Tuesday. “I’m excited we have six full weeks. We have a lot to accomplish.”
Nick Krall, the Reds’ general manager, said last year’s rushed spring training felt like a meet-and-greet for 10 days. Rosters were frozen during the lockout, so teams couldn’t make most of their offseason transactions until the start of camp.
“It was like a revolving door,” Krall said. “This year, it’s great to be able to come to camp and have most of your club set. We’re trying to make a move here and there just to finish off your camp roster, but not something where you’re making drastic changes when you get to camp.”
Preparing for the team’s first workout Wednesday, Bell said the first team meeting would largely outline the new rules before moving full steam ahead.
Some news and notes after pitchers and catchers reported to camp
► Nick Senzel is healthy after he underwent toe surgery in the offseason, arriving early to camp. He may not be a full participant on the first day of spring training for precautionary reasons, but he’s the top center fielder.
“If he’s healthy, he’s going to play,” Bell said. “What I told Nick is get yourself ready to play center, but also as our team settles in, we are going to move him around a little bit, let him play some infield, prepare him to play corner positions in the outfield, so we have some flexibility there. The main thing with Nick is just getting him healthy.”
► Spencer Steer is the leading candidate to start at third base after he debuted last September. He has the versatility to play all over the infield, which he did last year, but this is a chance to make himself comfortable in the big leagues.
“I do see a need and an opportunity at third base,” Bell said. “I’d like him to get settled in, get himself ready and give him every opportunity to make the team. Get him at-bats and let him have the opportunity to make the team at third base.”
► The Reds traded for lefthanded-hitting outfielder Will Benson last week. They sent outfield prospect Justin Boyd, the No. 73 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and a player to be named to Cleveland to acquire Benson. The Reds have scouted Benson heavily since he was a high schooler.
“He's a guy that is an elite athlete, has an elite sprint speed, can play all three spots in the outfield and he continues to make strides,” said Krall, noting Benson’s improved walk and strikeout rates at Triple-A last year. “He put up a .950 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) ‒ Columbus is a hitter's park ‒ but he did it at home and on the road. He's got a chance to be a quality Major League outfielder for a long time.”
► Some roster decisions could be expedited because of next month’s World Baseball Classic. The Reds have five pitchers on rosters: Alexis Díaz (Puerto Rico), Luis Cessa (Mexico), Reiver Sanmartin (Colombia), Fernando Cruz (Puerto Rico) and Ian Gibaut (Great Britain).
Cessa is competing for one of the final two spots in the starting rotation. Díaz will enter the year as the Reds’ closer and the other three relievers are fighting for roles in the bullpen. They’ll depart Reds camp at the beginning of March.
“It's not going to work against them, I can guarantee that,” Bell said. “If anything, I see it as an advantage because they simply have to get themselves ready quicker. We know a lot about our pitchers that are going to the WBC. What they can accomplish in camp for a couple of weeks is not going to be the deal breaker.”
► The Reds will be without reliever Tejay Antone for at least the first month of the season after he had a PRP injection to treat a flexor strain in his right forearm. Antone missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and had a setback as he ramped up for spring training.
“It was a minor setback, but significant enough that he has to slow down and make sure when he comes back, he can stay healthy,” Bell said. “Thankfully, it’s not anything that was more serious. He’s going to be able to come back from this.”
► Tony Santillan could miss the start of the season after missing most of last season with a back injury.
“He’s worked really hard to get healthy,” Bell said. “At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was delayed by a couple of weeks for the season just to be sure. Now it’s about his arm. He took so much time rehabbing his back, we have to make sure he has time to build up his arm and we don’t want to rush that process.”
Lucas Sims, another reliever who missed most of last year with a back injury, is healthy and will be a full participant in camp.
► The Reds have a lot of highly rated shortstop prospects with Elly De La Cruz at the top of the list, and they’ll all rotate through shortstop in big-league camp.
De La Cruz will spend his time at shortstop and third base, which he’s done in the minor leagues. Noelvi Marte will play shortstop and third base. Matt McLain will rotate through shortstop and second base.
“Let these guys play and we’ll make those decisions when you have to make those decisions,” Krall said.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand, a power-hitting prospect, will play first base and third base in camp.
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