With Opening Day getting closer, let\u2019s go through a fun fact or two for each Cincinnati Reds\u2019 position player. (This article also serves as a recap of my spring training coverage if you missed a story).<\/p>\n
Attached to every player\u2019s name is a hyperlink to a story I wrote about them this spring. So if you want to read more about that player, click their name. <\/p>\n
TJ Friedl (CF)<\/p>\n
Before last season, Terry Francona told TJ Friedl that he wanted to see Friedl on base twice a game. Last year, three leadoff hitters in MLB reached base two-plus times in a game 77-or-more times: Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. and TJ Friedl. He\u2019s an elite on-base guy and one of the best leaders on the team.<\/p>\n
The big thing this year will be getting back on track defensively. Friedl said that he felt slow last year, and he spent the winter working to develop and reestablish the burst and range that he had in 2023. Friedl is 30 this year. Since 2023, there have only been eight players in all of baseball who are 30-or-older and played 100+ games in a season in center field. Friedl wants to buck that trend and stay in center field for years to come. <\/p>\n
Matt McLain (2B)<\/p>\n
He spent the spring wearing long pants for the first time. Elly De La Cruz said he has been trying for years to get Matt McLain to have that look. De La Cruz said, \u201cLong pants, more flow, more swag.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLain earned the No. 2 spot in the lineup by making tangible progress with his at-bat quality and his approach against low and away sliders. He has regained some confidence. <\/p>\n
Elly De La Cruz (SS)<\/p>\n
In practices and games, there\u2019s a bit of a defensive competition between Elly De La Cruz and Gold Glove third baseman Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes. In practice, they battle to see who makes the fewest mistakes. While Hayes is the more consistent defender at this point, they also go back and forth delivering incredible highlight plays.<\/p>\n
For the first time, there\u2019s no statistical number like 70 steals or 162 games that De La Cruz is chasing this year. This year is about being a more consistent winning player. <\/p>\n
Is De La Cruz\u2019s prime about to begin?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d De La Cruz says, laughing. \u201cYou\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sal Stewart (1B)<\/p>\n
This is going to be Terry Francona\u2019s 25th year as a manager. <\/p>\n
In his entire managerial career, he has only had one rookie make at least 25 starts in a season in the cleanup spot. That would be Scott Rolen in 1997, which was Francona\u2019s first year as a manager. Rolen went on to be the Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n
If Sal Stewart ends up hitting cleanup this year, he\u2019d join Rolen on that list.<\/p>\n
The fact that Francona is considering batting Stewart cleanup over Su\u00e1rez tells you everything about how Francona feels about him.<\/p>\n
Eugenio Su\u00e1rez (DH)<\/p>\n
In Mariners spring training in 2022, Eugenio Su\u00e1rez could tell that a young Noelvi Marte was putting too much pressure on himself. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe advice he gave me was your time will come,\u201d Marte said, via interpreter Tom\u00e1s Vera. \u201cYour time to get to the big leagues will come. Relax. Work on the things you need to work on. Success will follow you. He helped me understand instead of rushing, let things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
The advice really helped Marte.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an example of the impact that Su\u00e1rez can make in the clubhouse. <\/p>\n
Spencer Steer (LF)<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always hear the story about Wally Pipp,\u201d Spencer Steer said. \u201cThat\u2019s my biggest fear. I just want to be available. I like to be a guy that when I show up, you know what you\u2019re going to get out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s sneakily one of the guys that the Reds can least afford to lose. He\u2019s essentially their utility player in addition to being an important bat. His versatility allowed the Reds to put a true bench bat like Nathaniel Lowe on the roster. <\/p>\n
Tyler Stephenson (C)<\/p>\n
No homegrown Reds player has taken the traditional path to free agency (six consecutive years on the big league roster) since Michael Lorenzen hit free agency at the end of the 2021 season. No Reds position player has taken that path since Zack Cozart in 2017.<\/p>\n
Tyler Stephenson is set to be a free agent at the end of the year. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know what the future holds,\u201d Stephenson said. \u201cI love being here, and we\u2019ll obviously see what happens. My goal this year is to have as much fun as I can because this is the group of guys that I came in with. I\u2019ll try to have fun with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noelvi Marte (RF)<\/p>\n
Noelvi Marte needed a \u201cnudge\u201d in early March as he had a poor start to camp. The coaches brought him in for a conversation. Marte immediately turned it around and did enough to reclaim the starting right field job.<\/p>\n
Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes (3B)<\/p>\n
Over the last two years, Hayes has learned that the LG5 disk in his back is \u201cthe most important one.\u201d Hayes has a chronic back issue \u2014 a degenerative disk \u2014 that he\u2019s constantly managing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the alignment issues that I have, stuff feels different day-to-day,\u201d Hayes said. \u201cSometimes I feel like I\u2019m standing a certain way but it\u2019s completely different. I battle with that a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s getting better at dealing with those back issues, but it\u2019s a constant process. <\/p>\n
Will Benson<\/p>\n
Terry Francona has said that Will Benson can be \u201cstreaky.\u201d Benson\u2019s big focus is being better at developing consistency.<\/p>\n
In the spring, Benson went up to Eric Davis for a one-on-one conversation about the topic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so grateful day-to-day to be in his presence and to have a resource like that,\u201d Benson said. \u201cHe\u2019s not only somebody who looks like me. In some ways, he thinks like me. He also has a rich history in this game. To be able to ask him so many questions and to know that he has experienced it, there\u2019s nothing better than that.<\/p>\n
Dane Myers<\/p>\n
He\u2019s known as a standout playmaker in center field. His defensive mindset is a product of his experience as a pitcher. <\/p>\n
Dane Myers\u2019 professional career started on the mound. He said, \u201cI remember pitching and thinking that a couple of guys weren\u2019t giving it their all and playing hard defense for me. Now, I\u2019m on the flip side of things. I like to make plays for my pitchers.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also known for the edge that he plays with on the field. Myers says that edge comes from being close to being out of baseball at one point. He has a real appreciation for where he\u2019s at. <\/p>\n
Jose Trevino<\/p>\n
He\u2019s extremely passionate about working with and mentoring minor league catchers in the organization, and his enthusiasm shines through every time he speaks about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to play this game forever,\u201d Jose Trevino said. \u201cI understand that. I know that. I feel like I take a lot of pride that if (guys) are going to be around me, it\u2019s my job to help them as much as I can. Whether it\u2019s giving them a shortcut on how to receive a pitch, how to block a pitch, whatever it is. I\u2019m giving them my feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prediction: Trevino is the best catcher in the league at the ABS challenge system this year. <\/p>\n
Nathaniel Lowe<\/p>\n
Nathaniel Lowe\u2019s mom, Wendy, died it early March. Lowe decided to stay in camp with the Reds as he competed for a spot on the team. He said, \u201cI feel like she\u2019d want me to keep going.\u201d The plan was that Lowe\u2019s dad would visit him in Arizona in March.<\/p>\n
Lowe\u2019s dad made it out to Arizona last week, and he got to see Lowe on the day that the first baseman learned that he had made the Reds\u2019 Opening Day roster. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful for being raised around the right people,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cI feel prepared to take on what life is throwing at me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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