Cincinnati Reds'
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Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 15, 2015 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1919-The Reds purchase Ray Fisher from the Yankees. Missing the 1918 season after being drafted into the Army, Fisher will go on to play two seasons for the Reds, collecting a 24-16 record, with a 2.47 ERA, 22 complete games, 6 shut outs, and 375.1 innings pitched. MLB.COM Bailey throws first live BP, likely to open season on DL Price says righty 'looked good' in 30-pitch session By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / [email protected] / @m_sheldon GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey seems likely to open the season on the disabled list, but still keeps progressing well in his rehab from surgery. On Saturday morning, Bailey faced hitters for the first time and threw 30 pitches in live batting practice against teammates Kyle Skipworth and Chris Dominguez. "He looked good," Dominguez said after the session ended. More importantly, Bailey felt good. He is trying to come back from a September operation that repaired a torn flexor mass tendon near his right elbow. "It went fine," Bailey said. "There is still work to be done. It's not like we're going to go out there and throw seven innings yet. There were good points and bad." Bailey wasn't thrilled with all of his mechanics but pleased overall. He wasn't expecting too much from the session, which is scheduled to be the first of two live BPs. "You just go out there and throw, and pitch, and see how it reacts -- if you feel less discomfort or more discomfort. That's kind of your telltale sign right there," he said. Bailey called the discomfort he felt "minimal." The Reds hoped that Bailey can advance to pitching in an actual game after another live BP, but the right-hander wasn't ready to look too far ahead. "We're going to have to see how we recover from it," Bailey said. "I will listen to the trainers and the people who are in charge of that." Reds manager Bryan Price isn't counting on Bailey to begin the season on time. The rotation already had two open spots entering camp but will likely need a third starting pitcher to make the team and fill in for Bailey. "Homer may not be ready until the middle of the month if he follows the throwing protocol that we currently have him on, although he's progressing rapidly," Price said. "We'll have [Johnny] Cueto and [Mike] Leake and we may need a fifth starter to possibly make one or two starts." Chapman to keep working multiple innings in Spring Training Hamilton, Mesoraco due back in Reds lineup Sunday vs. Royals By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / [email protected] / @m_sheldon GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- During his latest appearance for the Reds on Friday against the Dodgers, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman worked two innings. Chapman also pitched two innings in his previous game against the Angels on Monday. A couple of springs ago in 2013, the Reds stretched Chapman out for longer appearances because the club considered making him a starter. "The repetitions were what I felt really helped him get comfortable with his mechanics and get comfortable throwing that slider and changeup," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Even though we're going to limit him to one or two innings during the season, Spring Training is a great opportunity for him to connect with his mechanics and off-speed pitches. "We figured it's not broke, let's not try to fix it. He's not going to throw four or five innings but multiple-inning outings in the spring will be something fairly commonplace for Aroldis." Chapman allowed one run vs. the Dodgers and has allowed two hits, one walk with six strikeouts in his five innings over three appearances. Other items of note from Saturday at Reds camp: • The Reds got right fielder Jay Bruce back in the lineup on Saturday after he missed three games with a strained right calf. Catcher Devin Mesoraco and center fielder Billy Hamilton are expected back on Sunday. Mesoraco sustained a concussion on March 7 against the Royals when a foul tip struck his mask. Hamilton hurt his right shoulder in a wall collision vs. the Cubs on March 6. "My understanding is everything is a go with Devin," Price said. "There is paperwork that has to be filed with MLB and the players union. They have to sign off on it. That's really the only thing we're waiting for. … Unless they don't sign off, he'll be in the lineup [Sunday]." • Several Reds relievers have seen less action through the early portion of spring games, which was intentionally planned. With Minor League games beginning next week, more opportunities and innings will be created for the pitching staff. "The other initial challenge for the first two weeks of games is the number of pitchers we have and the number of guys we're trying to stretch to look at as starters. You'll see the relievers back loaded as far as appearances and innings in the second part of the spring schedule," Price said. Diaz ready to 'fight' for bullpen role after breakout '14 Reliever works with Cueto in offseason to prep for bullpen competition By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / [email protected] / @m_sheldon GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds reliever Jumbo Diaz waited more than a dozen years before finally breaking into the Major Leagues last season as a 30-year-old. In a down year for the team, especially the bullpen, Diaz emerged as a nice surprise and showed he belonged. Diaz wants to make the club out of camp this year, but takes nothing for granted. "I have to come in this year with the same hunger from last year," Diaz said. "They're giving me an opportunity and I will try to do my best to fight for that spot in the bullpen." The Reds made some bullpen upgrades by adding Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg and have returning relievers like J.J. Hoover, Pedro Villarreal and prospect Michael Lorenzen in the battle for spots. Diaz, who turned 31 on Feb. 27, is considered to be very much in the mix. "We're counting on him," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Again, there are no freebies here. We still need guys to come in and they have to look ready to help us in Spring Training." In 36 appearances for the Reds after his June callup from Triple-A Louisville, Diaz had a 3.38 ERA with 29 hits, 14 walks and 37 strikeouts over 34 2/3 innings. He also stranded 16 of his 19 inherited baserunners and earned a role in higher-leverage situations later in the season. This spring, Diaz has worked in three games. In a "B" game on Thursday, he gave up his first run along with two hits. "I don't want to get comfortable," Diaz said. "There are a lot of people here competing for a spot in the bullpen. I don't want to say that I've got it." Last spring, Diaz was a non-roster invite but impressed everyone in camp not only with his pitching but the discipline he showed in the offseason. He dropped 69 pounds as he went from 347 to 278 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame. Heading into this season, Diaz was home in the Dominican Republic and visited the Reds academy in Boca Chica a couple of times a week to work on his pitches. He often took advice from Reds ace Johnny Cueto, who often visited the academy to help some of the younger pitchers. "[Cueto] came to me and I said, 'What do I have to do to get better?'" Diaz said. "He said, 'You've got really good stuff, but don't be afraid to throw your fastball inside.' "My pitches are better. I worked hard in the offseason to get better. I tried to throw my changeup and slider better and down. It's working really good right now. I can really throw my slider and changeup at any time in the count." Diaz, who can reach the upper 90s with his fastball, is ready to accept any bullpen role he can claim. "If they want to put me in the sixth, the seventh or any time, I am here to help the team," he said. "Whatever situation they want to put me in, I'm ready for it." Bourgeois undergoes MRI after injuring left shoulder Outfielder falls running to first, exits game By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / [email protected] / @m_sheldon GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds outfielder Jason Bourgeois left Saturday's game vs. the Rockies in the bottom of the third inning with a left shoulder injury. Bourgeois underwent a MRI exam and the club is still awaiting the results. Following a leadoff double by Eugenio Suarez against Jordan Lyles in the Cincinnati half of the third inning, Bourgeois bunted toward third base and fell to the ground as he started running to first base. "I'd like to be able to explain exactly what happened," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I thought he tripped and did something when he went down. I think it happened after he bunted the ball and was leaving the box." Bourgeois laid on the ground for several moments and was tagged out by third baseman Trevor Story. "That was going to be a bunt base hit," Price said. "He actually got the bunt down and was in good shape when he was leaving the box and something happened.