Reds Baseball is Back (Spring Training Edition)

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It may be frigid here in Cincinnati, but it’s nice and warm in Goodyear, Arizona. That’s where your Reds will take the to the diamond today (or at least some of them will) for the team’s first spring training action. It’s a split squad contest for the Reds. One unit will take on the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear at 3:05 PM. The second faces off against the Brewers at 3:10. 

This iteration of spring training is packed full of hope and anticipation. That’s what you get when you bring in a manager with the chops that Terry Francona has to his name. He’s a two time World Series champion and three time manager of the year. Beyond that he’s prove to be one of baseball’s keenest minds from a managerial standpoint. And he’s done it on some of the biggest stages in baseball. 

Cincinnati has a bevy of young talent. They’ve made some solid signings and trades. And the combination of those moves with acquired such a seasoned manager has plenty of folks buying into what this team can do. 

Some of the most interesting storylines to watch this spring include the return of several players from injury. After suffering ligament damage from being hit by a pitch and missing nearly all of last year, Christian Encarnacion Strand is on the comeback trail. He played in eight games in the Arizona Fall League and looked very good. The Reds’ infield is crowded at the moment so it will be interesting to see both where CES plays in the spring and how his approach at the plate looks after missing so much time. 

Matt McLain is another promising young Red who is looking to bounce back from injury. His torn labrum caused him to miss all of 2024 after hitting .290 with 16 home runs in 2023. McLain is a mainstay at second base, and this spring should be a great test to see how he’s responding. He also saw time in the fall league, playing in 13 games. 

Noelvi Marte’s first full season since his suspension for use of PED’s should be an interesting one. After his suspension last year  he hit just .210 and posted a -1.8 bWAR. Marte’s solid numbers in 2023 (.316/.366/.456) are therefore somewhat under a cloud. But he is yet another player that should take complete advantage of every spring training at bat that he gets. 

The final thing to watch this spring is, of course, Cincinnati’s pitching staff. A eye opening 16 different pitchers started a game for the Reds last year. Some of that was due to injuries and bullpen days. But so many different pitchers were hurt at varying times that cataloging it all is a depressing and thankless task. 

The front office clearly understands how quickly a rotation and bullpen could implode due to injuries. They’ve taken steps to sign as many pitchers as possible, given their financial situation. And given the injuries to Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene, among others, Francona will likely be watching their workload very closely. 

Hope springs eternal in this town when it comes to the Reds. The pundits and projections have them finishing all over the map, from last to even winning the division. But when that first pitch hurtles towards home plate later today, all that goes out the window. Because baseball will be back!