As Tyler Stephenson prepared for his first career start at first base on Wednesday, he received some coaching from a guy who knows all the nuances.
Joey Votto, recovering from a broken left thumb, worked with Stephenson on some of the subtle parts of the position before batting practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It was pretty surreal,” Stephenson said. “He got out there and kind of went out of his way to help me and just do some pointers and help me get familiar with some stuff. It was exciting. He was very helpful. It was fun.”
Stephenson has played one inning at first base in two separate games, but that’s the extent of his experience in his pro career. He ordered a first baseman’s mitt but hasn’t had time to break it in yet, so he borrowed Mike Moustakas’ mitt for his start on Wednesday.
Since Votto’s injury, Stephenson did extensive fielding work at first base before the first game of each series. Moustakas, typically the first baseman with Votto sidelined, has been out of the lineup for the past five games because of a painful right heel bruise.
Votto emphasized some of the footwork and angles that could arise with defensive shifts.
“That’s exactly what Joey was helping me with,” Stephenson said. “Positioning – with a heavy-pull lefty kind of being on the line more or obviously a typical righty and stuff. That was new. With how the game is with the shifts, you can say, the different positions that come with first base kind of setting up different.”
Cincinnati Reds Manager David Bell added: “(Votto) does it behind the scenes a lot. Hitting, first base, the mental part of the game, everything. That happens all the time. It helps all of our players. It helps all of our team engage in the same kind of conversations. I think Joey enjoys it also. I saw that (Tuesday) when he was out there with Tyler.”
Stephenson admitted there were some nerves for his first career start at the position because it’s new to him, but he’s confident in himself. He’s a catcher who could be well-suited to play some games there with his 6-foot-4 frame. He’s used to picking balls from behind the plate, so he hopes that will transfer well to first base.
Votto mentioned to him, weeks before his injury, that he should take more reps at first base.
“Every once in awhile, (Tucker Barnhart) and I would be out there taking groundballs and stuff,” Stephenson said. “Joey made a comment of like, ‘Hey, you probably should do it more often just because you never know.’ Then obviously, the injury happened.”
Stephenson worked at the position with infield coaches Freddie Benavides and Delino DeShields, which led to Wednesday’s opportunity.
“We just felt like he's ready,” Bell said. “Obviously, we know that he's never done it before, but taking everything into consideration for today and really for the long haul, we have to do it. We feel like it makes us a better team for having him experience that and we feel like he's as ready as he can be.
“Until you play the game, you can practice all you want, but the game is how he's going to get better at this point. We don't have the luxury of the whole spring training. We have done everything we can to prepare, he’s done everything he possibly could do.”
Bell speaks from experience. After starting his big league career as a second baseman and third baseman, he started playing some first base in his fourth year.
“I know it's not easy,” Bell said. “But I also know that if you don't make too much of it, you know, a lot of our players have the ability to play multiple positions. I also was thrown out into left field by Lou (Piniella) and I'd never done it. I'd never even shagged fly balls and he just decided that's what was best for that day.
“I think those kind of experiences took the stigma out of it a little bit. At the same time, I don't think it's easy. I feel much better with all the work that Tyler did and all the work the coaches have done with him. I don't expect it to be perfect. I expect him to be as prepared as he possibly can be.”
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