Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 19, 2018 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1996-Hamilton County voters overwhelming approve a one-half cent sales tax increase to finance new stadiums for the Reds and Bengals MLB.COM Quackenbush making case to join Reds roster By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Mar. 18th, 2018 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- A non-roster reliever, right-hander Kevin Quackenbush has quietly done at Spring Training exactly what a pitcher trying to earn a job should do: put up zeros. In seven appearances, Quackenbush has allowed no earned runs with one unearned run, five hits, three walks and 10 strikeouts. He struck out the side with one walk in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Giants. "I'm still here. It's still exciting," Quackenbush said on Sunday. Quackenbush, 29, is seeking one of the final bullpen spots and is among several contenders still left in camp. Unlike fellow competitors such as Austin Brice, Kevin Shackelford or Zack Weiss, the Reds will have the added hoop of trying to find room for Quackenbush on the 40-man roster before he goes on the 25-man active roster. There are currently two openings. After he had four big league seasons with the Padres, Cincinnati signed Quackenbush to a Minor League deal in October and invited him to camp. "Quackenbush has had a nice spring," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's been the off-the-radar guy that has really pitched very well. He's extremely prepared, and he has great confidence in his fastball for a guy who has a really good curveball and isn't really overpowering as far as the sheer velocity numbers, but he's a guy that pitches with that elevated fastball extremely well. He's been really good about every time out." As a rookie in 2014, Quackenbush posted a 2.48 ERA in 56 appearances and he went on to go 13-14 with a 4.08 ERA in 103 big league games with San Diego. All of his seasons had something in common, however, because they all included stints at Triple-A El Paso. The wheels came off in 2017, as Quackenbush had a 7.86 ERA in 20 games and 26 1/3 innings. He was designated for assignment on Sept. 1. "I think it was a culmination of going up and down so many times," Quackenbush said. "I think it got into my head a little bit. I tried to do a little too much. I tried to overthrow and didn't stay within myself. It's not the ideal situation to be in. I tried to make the most of it, and it just didn't work out last year." Quackenbush enjoyed working at Petco Park for the Padres, but would be going from a pitcher-friendly ballpark to the very hitter- friendly Great American Ball Park if he makes it on to the Reds. Historically, Quackenbush has been a fly ball pitcher with a 0.69 career ground ball to fly ball ratio. That could be problematic at GABP, where routine fly balls can easily carry over the wall. "But you're still trying to make pitches," Quackenbush said, not concerned. "If you hit your spots and make your pitches, a majority of the time you will be OK." Never before this spring has Quackenbush faced trying to make a team, while simultaneously trying to improve his pitches. But so far, so good. "It's an exciting opportunity to be here and I'm excited to see what happens," Quackenbush said. Garrett eyes rotation following strong start By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Mar. 18th, 2018 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Even before his start for the Reds vs. the D-backs on Sunday, Amir Garrett sensed a strong performance was coming as he warmed up with catcher Tucker Barnhart. "Tucker was really getting me going today, screaming at me, 'Yeah!' And firing me up. I felt good just from the beginning," Garrett said. Garrett turned in four scoreless innings, with one infield hit and one walk during a 6-3 Reds win over Arizona. The left-hander also struck out four. Through five games, he has a 1.38 ERA. "I thought he had better stuff than most of his previous outings before today," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Today, he was a little lateral and wasn't behind the ball quite as well. But, he found a way to manage the game without his best command. That, to me, says a lot about where he is with his confidence and his ability to compete his way through some of the challenges." All that remains in the final week of camp for Garrett is to learn whether he has earned a spot in the rotation or bullpen. Cincinnati has three spots open in the rotation and a couple of spots available for relievers. "If I'm not one of the best five, I definitely think I am one of the best 12," Garrett said. "Wherever I'm at on the roster -- bullpen or starting -- I feel that I can help the team win. I did what I had to do. I came here and did what I said I was going to do. Now it's just up to them. Everything is out of my hands now." Garrett came into camp not considered among the top tier of starters competing for the fifth starter's job. But injuries to Anthony DeSclafani and Brandon Finnegan -- and Garrett's strong spring -- have changed the dynamic. While Tyler Mahle and Sal Romano appear to have the inside track now for two spots, Garrett could claim the fifth spot. But, he feels he could handle the job as a reliever well, too. "I'm just a baller, man. I will do whatever to help the team win," Garrett said. "I feel l can help the team in multiple ways. I want them to know that." Injury report Second baseman Scooter Gennett, who has been out since Thursday with a sore right shoulder, has resumed throwing the past two days. Price expected Gennett to return to the lineup on Monday, but not at his usual position. "He's going to DH tomorrow. I originally had him in the lineup [Sunday]," Price said. "We decided, since it's a home game, I can control having the DH. So, we're going to DH tomorrow and if everything goes well, he could play second base before the off day on Tuesday night. He should be ready to really hit the ground running when we hit that off day. I'm not concerned." Finnegan (left forearm spasm) threw 25 pitches in the bullpen on Sunday at full effort. The left-hander, who threw 15 pitches in a light bullpen on Friday, will likely get slotted into a game this week if he feels OK after throwing. Castillo returns Luis Castillo was back in camp after spending a few days in New York to be present for the birth of his daughter, Brittany. Castillo threw a bullpen session on Sunday, and is slated to pitch in a Minor League game on Tuesday. Jagielo traded On Saturday, the Reds traded Minor League infielder Eric Jagielo to the Marlins for cash. Jagielo was one of four players acquired from the Yankees in the Dec. 28, 2015, trade for closer Aroldis Chapman. Only pitcher Rookie Davis remains in the Reds' organization since that deal, and he's currently on the 60-day disabled list rehabilitating from right hip surgery. Infielder Tony Renda is in Arizona's organization and reliever Caleb Cotham has retired. Up next Robert Stephenson, who is trying to hang in the battle for a rotation spot, but has largely struggled this spring with a 9.00 ERA, is scheduled to pitch in Monday's 9:05 p.m. ET game vs. the Cubs. Listen to the game live on Gameday Audio. Acuna continues to thrive, leads top prospects By William Boor MLB.com @wboor Mar. 18th, 2018 Once again Ronald Acuna Jr. reminded Braves' fans, and the rest of the baseball world, why there's so much hype and excitement about his eventual arrival in Atlanta. The 20-year-old, who is regarded as the Braves' top prospect (No. 2 in MLB), extended his Spring Training hitting streak to four games and upped his average to .432 as he went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in the Braves' 6-3 win over the Astros on Sunday. While Acuna, as he often does, stole the show, A.J. Minter, the Braves' No. 15 prospect, continued his stellar spring as well. The 24- year-old lefty gave up a hit, but struck out the side in a scoreless inning -- keeping his ERA at 0.00 through six appearances. Other top prospect performances from Sunday's action: • No. 15 overall prospect Mitch Keller (Pirates No. 1) looked stellar in his Spring Training debut. The right-hander notched a trio of strikeouts and gave up one hit in two scoreless frames. • No. 23 overall Austin Hays (Orioles No. 2) and teammate Cedric Mullins (Orioles No. 7) combined to go 3-for-4 in Baltimore's 5- 4 loss to the Mets. Hays went 1-for-1 with a double, while Mullins, who also stole two bases, went 2-for-3. • No. 35 overall prospect Scott Kingery (Phillies No. 2) continued to impress with another multihit effort. The 23-year-old went 2- for-4 and is now slashing .378/.410/.676. The versatile prospect also made his first start at third base and showed he is certainly capable of playing the position.