Press Clippings June 14, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1925-Third-string Tom Sullivan becomes the first player born in to appear in a major league game. The 18-year-old grounds out in what would be his only appearance MLB.COM Reds land lefty Heatherly on Day 2 of Draft By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | June 13th, 2017 + 1 COMMENT

CINCINNATI -- After making the organization's first three selections on Monday night, the Reds' operations department and their scouts gathered again at their "war room" Tuesday for Day 2 of the 2017 MLB Draft.

On Monday, Cincinnati selected high school No. 2 overall, followed by shortstop Jeter Downs at No. 32 and Stuart Fairchild in the second round.

"It's a real advantage when you pick second," Reds vice president of amateur scouting Chris Buckley said. "You don't just pick second in the first round. You pick second in the other rounds. Until you're inside a Draft room, you don't realize how many players you lose. When we picked 27th, you might lose 10 players in a round before it gets to your pick."

Tuesday included Rounds 3-10. Here is a pick-by-pick look at the Reds' Day 2 Draft selections:

Round 3 (77th overall): LHP Jacob Heatherly, Cullman High School (Alabama)

Ranked at No. 45 among Draft prospects by MLBPipeline.com, Heatherly is a 19-year-old with a commitment to play at the University of Alabama. Scouting reports show a that stays in the 90-93 mph range but can touch 95. However, he appeared more erratic with his control during the spring leading up to the Draft.

"It's just so hard to get left-handed pitching that you think has a chance to start," Buckley said. "He's a big, strong kid with an above- average fastball and really spins the well. We think he has a chance to be a solid in the Major Leagues."

Heatherly, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, did make strides in other areas.

"Maturity. He believed in himself so much more," Cullman Brent Patterson told AL.com. "You could tell he felt so much more comfortable in his own skin."

Round 4 (107th overall): SS Cash Case, The First Academy High School (Florida)

Case, 18, has a commitment to play college baseball at Notre Dame, and the left-handed hitter batted .451 (37-for-82) during his senior season. Growing up in central Florida, he was exposed to Major League facilities and got to train at the Tigers' headquarters in Lakeland.

As a youth, Case spent a lot of time in Winter Haven when the Indians trained there and befriended Hall of Famer . Before games, Case got to play catch on the field and got to have Feller, a war hero and pitching great, as a role model.

Off the field, Case has played the guitar, piano and saxophone since he was 6 years old. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese after studying the language for four years.

"He's a little like Hunter Greene in the fact that he's a very well-rounded man," Buckley said. "He comes from a very educated family. He's a really neat kid. We really like his bat. He's best buddies with [Reds prospect] down there. He's kind of similar to Jesse. We think he can be a really good offensive player."

Round 5 (137th overall): RHP Mac Sceroler, Southeastern Louisiana University

Sceroler happens to be the nephew of two accomplished baseball players. One uncle, Ben McDonald, was a former No. 1 overall pick of the Orioles in 1989 who pitched for Baltimore and the Brewers during a nine-year big league career. His uncle tossed a complete-game win and struck out 16 for LSU in the title game vs. Wichita State in the 1993 College .

Scouting reports show that Sceroler projects as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter. He was originally projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick, but slipped as he struggled later in the season. The 22-year-old has four pitches, including a fastball that ranges from 91-93 mph and tops out at 95 mph.

Round 6 (167th overall): RHP Tyler Buffett, Oklahoma State University

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, the 22-year-old Buffett is a relative of business tycoon and one of the world's richest persons, Warren Buffett, a first cousin of Tyler's grandfather.

"It was cool," Tyler Buffett told the New York Times in 2016, about meeting Warren. "It was more of a conversation than me trying to talk to him."

Buffett has the Berkshire Hathaway executive's entrepreneurial spirit. His lifelong dream has been to take over the family's candy store. For now, pitching professionally will come first.

"We all wanted some investment advice," Buckley joked. "He has earned everything he's got. He's been a very good performer at a big school. The head coach there is one of my former Draft choices, Josh Holliday. He told us a whole lot of nice stuff about the kid and we thought he fit right there as a kid with a chance to be a starting pitcher."

Round 7 (197th overall): C Mark Kolozsvary, University of Florida

Kolozsvary hails from the same central Florida hometown as the Reds' fourth-round pick, Case. The 5-foot-8 backstop batted .270 with three home runs and 26 RBIs in 45 games. In SEC games, he batted .320 with 13 RBIs while throwing out five of seven runners attempting to steal.

Remarkably, Kolozsvary began the season as the Gators' No. 3 catcher on the depth chart. He spent much of the year backing up Mike Rivera, who was the Indians' sixth-round pick in this Draft. Both have more games left as Florida is Omaha-bound for the College World Series.

"Florida is a very good team. A lot of our personnel live in the state and I happen to live in Tampa," Buckley said. "It's a school we see a lot. Sometimes we've wondered why he hasn't played more, but we think he's a talented guy that can be a solid Major League catcher."

Round 8 (227th overall): RHP Connor Ryan, University of Illinois-Chicago

A mathematics major at UIC, Ryan is listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and worked as a reliever in college. This season, the right- hander was 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA, 13 hits, five walks and 30 over 29 .

Round 9 (257th overall): LHP Packy Naughton, Virginia Tech University

Although the 21-year-old goes by Packy, the Boston native's given name is Patrick Joseph Naughton. His numbers weren't dynamic in 2017, as he went 2-6 with a 6.24 ERA in 17 games, including seven starts. His three-year college career ERA is 6.13.

However, Naughton showed better numbers and performances during the wooden bat Cape Cod League near his hometown. He was an All-Star in that league during the 2016 season.

"We saw him at the Cape and in a number of different roles. He's a left-handed pitcher with an above-average arm and they are just hard to find," Buckley said.

Round 10 (287th overall): RHP Robby Howell, University of Central Florida

Howell was named an All-American after helping his team win the American Athletic Conference Championship and make its first NCAA Regional appearance since 2012. He was 10-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 16 starts.

In 103 innings, the 22-year-old Howell allowed 94 hits and 42 walks while striking out 94 batters for a 1.32 WHIP.

The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at noon ET.

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of or its clubs.

Garrett looks to get back on track By Jay Paris / Special to MLB.com | 8:34 AM ET + 0 COMMENTS

A rested starts for the visiting Reds against the Padres' Jhoulys Chacin in Wednesday's matinee to cap the three-game series.

Garrett's throwing hand was by a line drive off the bat of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes on Friday. After 23 pitches, the rookie southpaw's outing was done.

Garrett, who has lost three straight decisions, has had an uneven season, including being sent down to -A Louisville and landing on the disabled list with hip inflammation.

"It's not a huge sample size, but at times he has been very impressive and at other times he's looked like a young rookie pitcher trying to find his way,'' Reds said.

Chacin has been sharp at , where he is 3-1 in six starts with a 1.58 ERA. Only the Astros' Dallas Keuchel (1.04) has a better home ERA among Major League starters.

Opponents are hitting just .152 (21-for-138) against Chacin at home, compared to a .377 average (52-for-138) on the road. If his has bite, he can be good anywhere.

"He's done a lot of work to finish more out in front with his pitch,'' Padres manager Andy Green said. "He's doing somewhat better with that.''

Things to know about this game

• A trio of Padres hitters seem to be embracing the so-called "fly ball revolution," but the results haven't always been favorable. Ryan Schimpf, who was sent down to Triple-A El Paso on Friday, Austin Hedges and Matt Szczur each have averaged launch angles of 16 degrees or more -- ranking among the 60 highest among nearly 350 qualified hitters -- with Schimpf sitting at the very top with a 30.2-degree average. However, entering Tuesday the trio had also recorded three of the five highest popup rates among that same group of batters who have put at least 50 balls in play in 2017.

• Reds shortstop Zack Cozart could return to the lineup after not starting in the second game of the series. Cozart was out with tightness in his right quad, but he said on Tuesday that he didn't think it was serious.

• Padres outfielder Jose Pirela, who was called up on from Triple-A El Paso on June 6, will look to extend his career-high hitting streak to eight games.

Jay Paris is a contributor to MLB.com based in San Diego. He covered the Reds on Tuesday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Reds can't get traction vs. Padres' Richard By Jay Paris and Nathan Ruiz / MLB.com | 2:17 AM ET + 133 COMMENTS

SAN DIEGO -- With the backing of early support and two homers by , Padres left-hander Clayton Richard was phenomenal Tuesday, guiding San Diego past the Reds to a 6-2 victory.

Richard held Cincinnati, losers of five straight, to eight hits in 8 2/3 innings, not allowing a Reds batter past first base until the seventh. Richard faltered with two outs in the ninth, when 's two-run, pinch-hit off Richard's career-high 127th pitch ended his bid for a shutout.

"We desperately wanted to see him get that last out, just for him," Padres manager Andy Green said. "He deserves those opportunities. He's earned those kinds of opportunities. He's earned that trust. We felt good about giving him that opportunity."

In the eighth, Green visited Richard -- then at 105 pitches -- on the mound. Richard told his manager he was capable of continuing, and Green trusted him.

"I really appreciate the opportunity he gave me because I don't think a lot of managers would do that in that situation," Richard said. "… I felt really appreciative to have the opportunity to keep on staying in there and trying to finish what we started.

The Padres' first four batters singled off Reds starter , with Wil Myers fisting an RBI into right before grounded a ball up the middle to score another run.

"They had four singles on seven pitches and they had two runs in,'' Reds manager Bryan Price said. "None of them was really hit on the barrel. But that's putting the ball in play and making something happen.''

Cordero homered in the third to give his team a 3-0 lead. It was the 100th Reds pitching has allowed this season, the most of any team. Cordero hit the 101st in the seventh. Cory Spangenberg extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI single in the fifth and Jose Pirela, who went 2-for-5 to push his hitting streak to seven games, drove in a run in the eighth.

"We're just getting some good pitches to hit and getting the barrel to the ball, and the results are showing up," Cordero said through a team interpreter. "I'm making sure that pitches are in the zone, and when it comes to the offspeed stuff, I'm just making sure that they're definitely up."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Franchy's follow-up: A day after hitting his first Major League home run, Cordero doubled down. In the third, he sent a Feldman over Petco Park's center-field fence. At a projected 420 feet, it was the farthest Cordero has hit a ball by 27 feet. He outdid himself in the seventh, tagging Tony Cingrani for a projected 428-foot solo shot; it was the second-hardest hit of his rookie season at 112.7 mph, according to Statcast™. In 56 plate appearances in the Major Leagues, Cordero is slashing .327/.375/.635.

"It's a testament to, one, [bench coach] Mark McGwire," Green said. "In Spring Training, the first day he saw him, he points at him and says, 'That kid can hit. He's going to hit.' He's loved him from the first day of Spring Training."

QUOTABLE

"It's nice to know that the fans get it. They understand a situation like this and what goes into it. It's special. In a big league game, to get a standing ovation, it's special." -- Richard on the reaction of Petco Park when he exited in the ninth

"Baseball is a funny game. Sometimes you can make great pitches and they have soft contact and they find holes. Other times you can make terrible pitches and they hit it right at guys. So that's the beauty of baseball, but at the same time it's the frustrating part.'' -- Feldman on the Padres not barreling balls up but still producing two first- runs

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Of the eight hits Richard allowed, three had a lower than 12 percent chance of being a hit, including Barnhart's two-run double in the ninth, according to Statcast™.

PIRELA PROVIDES SPARK

Pirela continued a strong performance that began when he arrived in the Major Leagues this season. He hit an infield single in the first that extended his hitting streak to seven games. After going hitless in his next three at-bats, Pirela added a two-out RBI single in the eighth. He's .484 overall and .555 during the streak.

WHAT'S NEXT

Reds: Amir Garrett takes the mound for first time since exiting Friday's game in the second inning with a bruised left hand. Garrett, a southpaw, was hit by a line drive off the bat of Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes. Garrett had a short start before that outing, working 2 2/3 innings and surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits in a loss to the Braves. First pitch is at 3:40 ET as the Reds wrap up a disappointing six-game road trip still seeking their first win.

Padres: Jhoulys Chacin will make his seventh start at Petco Park, where he has been dominant. The veteran right-hander has a 3-1 record and 1.58 ERA in 40 innings at home this season. First pitch of the series finale is set for 12:40 p.m. PT.

Jay Paris is a contributor to MLB.com based in San Diego. He covered the Reds on Tuesday. Nathan Ruiz is a reporter for MLB.com based in San Diego. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Reds pick Case has ties to franchise greats Fourth-round selection has befriended Griffey Jr., met Rose, Bench, Larkin By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | June 13th, 2017 + 0 COMMENTS

CINCINNATI -- High school shortstop Cash Case was still basking in the moment of being selected by the Reds on Tuesday with their fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. Not only was Case taken by one of his favorite clubs, he already has connections to several of its legendary players.

As a kid growing up in the Orlando, Fla., area, Case met , and . He's also befriended Ken Griffey Jr.

"He's one of my favorite players ever," Case said of Griffey. "I was out in San Diego with him for the All-American Game. We kind of became friends, because we both live in Orlando and both swing from the left side. Knowing these guys, and the Reds became a team I was interested in."

And that's just one Hall of Famer. Case also struck up a friendship with Cleveland pitching great and war hero Bob Feller when the Indians trained in Winter Haven, Fla. Before games, Feller often played catch on the field with a kid and threw ceremonial first pitches.

"It was so unique and awesome to go out there with one of the greatest before games and throw," Case said of Feller, who passed away in 2010. "I actually caught his last pitch ever that he threw at Winter Haven. It was a really special moment with one of the greats of the game. It just made me love baseball more, knowing this great pitcher and great guy. The old heroes of the game are what shape it to what it is today."

Case, 18, batted .451 (37-for-82) during his senior season at The First Academy High School. A former switch-hitter and a natural right-handed hitter, he now bats exclusively from the left side.

It's too soon to know what kind of professional career Case will have. But when he joins other Reds prospects to play this summer, he will definitely have one of the more diverse and interesting backgrounds.

Off the field, Case has played the guitar, piano and saxophone since he was six years old. For four years, he studied and became fluent in speaking Mandarin Chinese. Even after he stopped taking courses during his senior year, he kept up with the language on Rosetta Stone.

"I got really good at it," Case said. "Something like that would be very good for business down the road. It's something to have that not many people can say they have. It means a lot to me that I'm different than a lot of people."

On the field, Case followed a path that differed from many aspiring elite young players. He avoided travel baseball programs and participated in the Tigertown Tigers program at Detroit's spring facility in Lakeland, Fla. It was started by his father, Garrick, and Kevin Bradshaw -- the Tigers' former Minor League field coordinator and now the manager of the Orioles' team in Aberdeen.

The program produced Josh Lowe, an outfielder and first-round pick of the Rays last year.

"It's not like the normal travel ball and going out for tournaments," Case said. "It's something I did differently than a lot of people. It got to me where I am today, and I'm glad to say I did it differently."

The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at noon ET.

Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Castillo sets career highs for Pensacola By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | 1:39 AM ET + 0 COMMENTS

Luis Castillo has long possessed swing-and-miss stuff, but it wasn't until this season that the hard-throwing right-hander showed he could induce whiffs with consistency. Now, there's seemingly no stopping him.

The Reds No. 6 prospect set a pair of career highs on Tuesday as he recorded 13 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings to pace Double-A Pensacola in a 5-0 shutout over Mississippi. He allowed two hits, both singles, and walked one while throwing 99 pitches, 71 for strikes.

"He was mixing the location with his fastball," Pensacola pitching coach Danny Darwin told MiLB.com. "He moved it in and out well and was able to throw his changeup, even behind in the count, and showed a good slider with depth. He was just getting ahead of the hitters all night."

Castillo, 24, tallied seven of those punchouts over his final three frames, as he struck out the side in the sixth inning before fanning a pair in both the seventh and eighth.

It was the third time in Castillo's last seven starts that he has recorded double-digit strikeouts -- something he had never accomplished in 40 career starts before this season. His previous single-game high was 10 strikeouts, which he set against Birmingham on May 10, and then matched versus Jacksonville on June 1.

Castillo has been missing more bats than ever lately, as Tuesday's outing gives him 31 strikeouts in 19 innings across his last three turns for the Blue Wahoos. Overall, his 76 strikeouts in 74 innings equate to the best strikeouts-per-nine mark of his career at 9.2 K/9, and he's done so while posting a 2.68 ERA and issuing just 1.5 walks-per-nine. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER BAR: The loss that may be a huge win for Reds C. Trent Rosecrans , [email protected] 9:54 a.m. ET June 13, 2017

The Blog Above Replacement a daily look at the Reds, their minor leagues and whatever else is on the mind of Enquirer Reds beat writers, C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan. You can follow them on Twitter (@ctrent and @ZachENQ), Facebook (C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan) and Instagram (ENQReds).

If Hunter Greene is half of what many expect him to be, ’ blown on Oct. 2, 2016, could go down as the best loss in team history.

The Reds went into the final game of the season last year with the potential to draft anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6. A win – and the Reds led the Cubs in the ninth – and the team would have picked fourth.

Even after the loss, the Reds brass had to sweat out an extra-inning game between the Rangers and Rays before solidifying the No. 2 overall pick.

A win that day would have given the Reds a winning record in the second half. It also would have meant the Padres would have been able to draft Greene, a player they coveted.

Throughout this rebuilding process, it’s been noted that a .500 record or near it isn’t the goal, it’s building up the franchise to be in a position to win consistently and compete for titles. Will that happen? There’s no way to know at this point, but acquiring talent is what is important in years that a team isn’t going to challenge for a title. Losing that game last year is an extreme case, but it also led to what many have called a “generational talent.”

ICYMI

• Dick Williams said he’d worried for months that the Reds weren’t picking high enough to get Greene.

• 25 years later, the Reds finally drafted Jeter – Florida high school shortstop Jeter Downs.

• Strange day for Wake Forest CF Stuart Fairchild – he won a big game, lost another and then was drafted by the Reds in the second round.

• Another rough start for Bronson Arroyo. There’s no real option to replace him right now, but with and on schedule to return soon, that could change.

• Zack Cozart took over the lead at shortstop in All-Star voting.

• The Orioles took Xavier left-hander Zac Lowther with the 74th overall pick.

MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Triple-A: The Bats were off.

Double-A: Pensacola 8, Mississippi 1: RHP Deck McGuire allowed just one hit over seven scoreless innings. He walked four and struck out nine. 2B was 2 for 4 with four RBI.

High-A: Florida 2, Daytona 1: 1B Reydel Medina hit his third homer of the season to support RHP Jesus Reyes, who allowed just three hits over eight shutout innings and threw just 89 pitches (62 strikes). He walked one and struck out six. RHP Zack Weiss blew the save, giving up two runs in the ninth on three hits.

Low-A: Daytona 8, West Michigan 2: Reliever came into the game with the tying run on base in the eighth and recorded the final six outs of the game on just 12 pitches. 1B James Vasquez was 2 for 4 with a double and four RBI. DAYTON DAILY NEWS Zack Cozart: If I make the All-Star team, is buying me a donkey B.J. Bethel 4:42 p.m Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Zack Cozart’s career year has brought plenty of positives. He jumped Dodgers shortstop Cory Seager in the National League All-Star balloting last week, and was told by teammate and Cincinnati Reds Joey Votto he was getting a donkey if he made the All-Star team.

Yes. A donkey.

“I don’t know why I like donkeys so much,” Cozart told MLB Network Radio. “Maybe because they look like they’re real chill.”

Cozart is hitting .324 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs. He’s carried a massive .411 on-base percentage and a .982 .OPS.

Cozart, who has always been considered a top defensive shotstop but struggled regularly at the plate, has hit .252 over his career with a .300 .OBP.

The longtime Red is leading the National League among shortstops with 997,996 votes to Seager’s 804,788. He’s often mentioned as trade bait, given his monster year, this being his contract year, and the Reds having piled their minor leagues and bench with young infielders.

The shortstop began appreciating donkeys when he would visit a donkey farm in Arizona, located near the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear.

“There’s a donkey farm where you can feed the donkeys,” Cozart told MLB Network radio.

“(Joey Votto) was like, ‘You make the All Star team, I’m going to get you a donkey.’ I’m like Joey, I don’t need a donkey right now, but if anybody knows Joey, and I do, and if it happens, he’s going to show up with a donkey somehow.

Barely half of Cincinnati Reds first round picks since 1965 have made The Show Marcus Hartman Staff Writer 3:49 p.m Tuesday, June 13, 2017

How likely is Hunter Greene to make it to the big leagues with the Cincinnati Reds?

That’s impossible to predict, but the team’s history with first round picks might give us some hints.

Greene is considered a premium prospect both as a pitcher and a shortstop, but the team says it will begin evaluating him as a hurler.

Here are some numbers to consider from looking at the 29 pitchers drafted in the first round by the Reds since 1965 (via Baseball- Reference):

*16 made it to the major leagues, be it for the Reds or anyone else (two who haven’t made their major-league debuts are still in the team’s farm system)

*11 pitched in at least 100 games (, , , Bill Robinson, Jack Armstrong, C.J. Nitkowski, Dustin Mosely, , Homer Bailey, , )

*8 have a Wins Above Replacement number of 1.0 or better (Nolan, gullet, Robinson, Armstrong, , Bailey, Boxberger, Leake and , who has pitched in 98 games as of this writing)

*5 have a career ERA under 4.00 (Nolan, Gullett, Robinson, Boxberger, Leake)

*4 won more than 50 games in their career (Nolan, Gullett, Bailey, Leake)

*3 have more than 10 saves (Gullett, Robinson, Boxberger)

*19 were (like Greene) taken out of high school

*9 of the prep pitchers made the majors

*6 of the nine high schoolers pitched in more than 100 big leauge games, though three of them (Nolan, Simpson and Gullett) were drafted before 1970.

A hit rate (at least in terms of making it to the majors) of more than 50 percent is somewhat surprising, but how does it compare position players drafted?

The Reds have taken a non-pitcher in the first round 34 times (including supplemental picks), and 19 have made it to the big leagues. That is nearly an identical percentage, though it drops to an even 50 percent if we remove Phil Ervin and Jesse Winker, who both appeared briefly with the big club earlier this season before going back to Triple-A.

The general perception is right-handed high school pitchers are the riskiest picks, but the numbers don’t bear that out, at least with the Reds.

Here are three more to consider:

*13 of the position players drafted have played in at least 300 games, and 13 have a positive WAR.

*8 have posted a career OPS of at least .739, the major-league average last season, including Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin.

So, is Greene the next Nolan, or could he some day fill Larkin’s shoes as an all-around star?

The odds might be less different than you’d expect.

MLB Draft: 5 things to know about Reds’ top 3 picks SPORTS By Jay Morrison - Staff Writer Updated: 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2017 | Posted: 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The Cincinnati Reds picked their first three of 41 players in the MLB Draft on Monday, starting with high school shortstop and right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene with the second overall pick.

In the Competitive Balance Round A, the Reds picked high school shortstop Jeter Downs with the 32nd overall pick. And they drafted Wake Forest outfielder Stuart Fairchild with the second pick of the second round (38th overall).

Here are five things to know about the newest members of the organization”

Positional plan

On a conference call with reporters Monday night, there was one question Reds President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams was not prepared to answer:

What position will Greene play?

“We’re going to leave the door open for both,” Williams said. “As I’ve said many times, playing at the highest level is very difficult and I just wouldn’t ever want somebody to try to focus on both to the detriment of one. We think Hunter’s got a great chance to be a major leaguer as a pitcher. We think the potential is there as a position player.

“I think at first we will focus on pitching and allow him to take at-bats,” Williams added. “We’ll keep the door open to playing the field. This is a very unique situation, something we’ve never been confronted with before. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to go through this with Hunter.”

Asked what his preference would be, Greene said it’s not his job to decide.

“I love doing both just as much,” he said. “It’s something that the ballclub, I’m trusting their professionalism and judging players and knowing how the game works and foreseeing a career. And whatever they want me to do, I’m going to be pumped to do it and just go out there and compete and be the best I can be.”

Impressive makeup

As a member of the Reds media relations staff was wrapping the conference call, Williams stopped the sign-off and said there was something he needed to say.

“I think it’s important that I mention what struck me about Hunter,” Williams said. “The baseball skills are there. The scouts saw him. The reports I read are like no other reports I’ve seen in my limited time in baseball, making some historic comparisons. What I saw in Hunter is a belief in himself.

“That may sound a little corny on a call like this, but his awareness of his place in the world, I was stuck by the maturity you all have seen,” he continued. “He understands that being able to play baseball at this level is gift. It’s not something to be taken for granted. I was incredibly impressed by how he’s leveraged that gift to share happiness with other people. He’s going to be a tremendous baseball player, and he’s going to be a tremendous person. I spent the last couple of months worrying that we weren’t picking high enough to get him.”

Double downs

Downs’ older brother Jerry is a first baseman who was a 15th-round pick of the in 2015.

He’s currently with Single-A Greenville, where he is hitting .194 with five RBIs and a steal.

Jeter said Jerry’s experience with the draft process was a big help for him.

“It’s huge,” he said. “It’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to play straight out of high school. I already knew what I was getting into because of my brother. The things he does on the road in hotels to prepare himself, the preparation, the food, feeding your body and taking care of your body.

“I’m not going into this without any knowledge of how the minor leagues are,” he continued. “I know it’s a grind, I know it’s going to be tough, I know I’m going to have my struggles. I just have to stay strong and battle through them.”

Notable namesake

Downs confirmed the obvious that he was named after former shortstop Derek Jeter, but he said it wasn’t his dad’s decision.

“It was actually my Mom’s idea,” he said. “My brother got Jerry from my Dad. It was my Mom’s turn to pick a name since I was a second child. She just fell in love with Jeter and the way he played, his humbleness, how he carried himself on and off the field.

“That’s how I pride myself,” he added. “I try to do the right thing on and off the field, whether it’s baseball related or out with friends or helping somebody out on the street.”

In the first game Derek Jeter played after Jeter Downs was born July 27, 1998, the Yankees captain went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs.

Good times, bad times

On the day the Reds drafted Fairchild with the second pick of the second round, his college season came to an end when Wake Forest fell to Florida 3-0 in the winner-take-all game of the super regional.

Fairchild was named a first-team All-American by Baseball and America and Collegiate Baseball and is one of 25 finalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as well as one of 25 finalists for the Dick Hoswer Trophy. Both awards honor the nation’s top amateur player, as selected by the respective organizations.

The 6-foot, 205-pounder hit .360 with 17 homes and 67 RBIs this season. ESPN.COM If Cozart makes All-Star team, Votto will gift him a donkey 5:44 PM ET ESPN.com

Being teammates can be similar to being brothers.

Joey Votto and Zack Cozart have spent their entire careers suiting up for the Cincinnati Reds, and they've been playing alongside one another for each of the past seven seasons.

Votto knows that Cozart has a love for donkeys -- yes, donkeys -- and thought he'd do the honors of getting one for his teammate if Cozart earns a spot on this year's NL All-Star team, reports MLB Network Radio.

Votto, who has been named an All-Star four times during his 11-year career, is currently fifth in the NL votes for first basemen.

The 31-year-old Cozart is having an impressive season with a slash line of .324/.411/.571, nine homers and 33 RBIs. The official All-Star rosters will be announced on July 2.

-- Josiah Turner ASSOCIATED PRESS Richard, Cordero lead Padres past slumping Reds 6-2 Today

SAN DIEGO (AP) — When manager Andy Green came to the mound in the eighth inning, Clayton Richard thought his outing was over.

Richard stayed in the game, however — and nearly finished it.

The left-hander carried a shutout into the ninth and Franchy Cordero homered twice as the beat the slumping Cincinnati Reds 6-2 on Tuesday night.

One out from going the distance, Richard was removed after pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart’s two-run double. He allowed eight hits while striking out six and walking two on 127 pitches.

“I really appreciate the opportunity he gave me there, because I don’t think a lot of managers do that in that situation,” Richard said. “I felt really appreciative to try and finish what I started. Unfortunately in the ninth, I wasn’t able to get it done.”

Brandon Maurer got the final out for his 11th save, sealing Cincinnati’s fifth straight loss.

“I desperately wanted to see him get that last out,” Green said, referring to Richard. “He deserves those kinds of opportunities. He has earned them with trust over the years.”

Richard (5-7) tossed San Diego’s only of the season on May 21. This time, he left to a standing ovation.

“It’s special,” Richard said. “That’s what makes it fun is the fans know they are a part of this. It’s great.”

Cordero hit a drive to center field in the first inning against Scott Feldman (5-5) and added another solo homer onto the beach beyond the right-center field fence in the seventh. The multihomer game was Cordero’s first, after he hit his first career home run on Monday.

“I’m just getting some pitches to hit and getting the barrel on the ball,” Cordero said through a translator. “The results are showing up.”

Feldman allowed four runs and eight hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.

“Baseball’s a funny game and sometimes you can make pitches and get weak contact and they find holes and other times you can make terrible pitches and they hit it right at guys,” Feldman said. “That’s the beauty of baseball, but also at the same time it’s kind of a frustrating part sometimes, but it’s just part of the deal.”

San Diego got to Feldman early. The first four batters he faced singled as the Padres built a 2-0 lead.

Wil Myers and Yangervis Solarte each drove in a run in the first. Cory Spangenberg singled home Solarte in the fifth to make it 4-0.

“They had four singles on seven pitches. They had two runs in seven pitches into the game, and none of them were really hit on the barrel, but that’s putting the ball in play and making something happen,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “They were able to do that. They were aggressive early in the count, they fought off some pitches inside, a couple ground ball hits, a couple of soft base hits into the outfield and next thing you know it’s 2-0. Scott battled, he battled his heart out, and just fell behind 4-0 and then we weren’t really able to do much.”

Cordero finished with a career-high three hits. Myers, Solarte, Jose Pirela and Austin Hedges each had two for the Padres.

QUOTABLE

“I’ve been on the other side, too, and the boos aren’t as fun.” — Richard on receiving a standing ovation.

HOT HITTER

Scott Schebler had three hits for Cincinnati and is 7 for 12 in his last three games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds SS Zack Cozart sat out with a sore right quadriceps. He is day to day.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (5-5, 5.35 ERA) has pitched at least six innings in seven of his 13 starts. He is 3-1 with a 1.58 ERA at Petco Park this season.

Reds: LHP Amir Garrett (3-5, 7.40) exited his last outing when a line drive struck him on the right hand. Garrett left the game in the second inning, and X-rays were negative. TRANSACTIONS 06/14/17 optioned Matt Olson to . Oakland Athletics selected the contract of Daniel Gossett from Nashville Sounds.

06/13/17 sent OF Steve Pearce on a rehab assignment to . recalled Paolo Espino from Colorado Springs Sky Sox. sent RHP Drew Rucinski outright to . recalled RHP Mike Morin from Salt Lake Bees. Los Angeles Angels optioned RHP to Salt Lake Bees. New York Yankees sent LHP on a rehab assignment to Tampa Yankees. recalled 1B T.J. Rivera from Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets placed SS Asdrubal Cabrera on the 10-day disabled list. Left thumb sprain. sent C Francisco Pena outright to Norfolk Tides. RHP Edwin Jackson elected free agency. sent RHP Diego Moreno on a rehab assignment to . Tampa Bay Rays sent C Wilson Ramos on a rehab assignment to Durham Bulls. Toronto Blue Jays placed RHP on the 10-day disabled list. Hip stress reaction Tampa Bay Rays recalled RHP Jacob Faria from Durham Bulls. New York Yankees sent LHP Tommy Layne outright to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. placed 1B Adrian Gonzalez on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to June 12, 2017. Lower back discomfort. Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP from Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Tampa Bay Rays placed RHP Matt Andriese on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to June 11, 2017. Hip stress reaction. sent RHP Junichi Tazawa on a rehab assignment to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Miami Marlins sent RHP Tom Koehler on a rehab assignment to New Orleans Baby Cakes. Miami Marlins sent LHP Justin Nicolino on a rehab assignment to . Milwaukee Brewers recalled LHP from Colorado Springs Sky Sox. optioned LHP Joely Rodriguez to Round Rock Express. traded LHP Joely Rodriguez to Texas Rangers for Player To Be Named Later. Milwaukee Brewers optioned CF Brett Phillips to Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Milwaukee Brewers activated 3B from the bereavement list. Milwaukee Brewers designated RHP Rob Scahill for assignment. Minnesota Twins recalled RHP Ryan Pressly from Rochester Red Wings. Minnesota Twins optioned RHP Alex Wimmers to Rochester Red Wings. St. Louis Cardinals recalled LHP Marco Gonzales from Memphis Redbirds. St. Louis Cardinals released 3B Jhonny Peralta. St. Louis Cardinals recalled RHP Sam Tuivailala from Memphis Redbirds. Milwaukee Brewers placed RHP Brandon Woodruff on the 10-day disabled list. Right hamstring tightness. Los Angeles Dodgers activated CF Joc Pederson from the 10-day disabled list.