Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 2, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1995 - After 23 replacement players leave camp, the Reds find themselves short of players for an exhibition game, and engineer a “trade” with the Indians, acquiring five players for “future considerations” MLB.COM Mechanical tweak pays off for Cozart in first AB Righty hitter adjusted hand placement in stance By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | March 1st, 2017 + 38 COMMENTS PHOENIX -- Three days ago, on the heels of watching Indians stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Encarnacion bat against his team, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart decided to try a change to how he set himself to hit. Instead of starting with his hands up by his face while holding the bat Wednesday in his spring debut vs. the Brewers, Cozart kept them relaxed. His bat was rested on his shoulder to start. On the second pitch of his first at-bat of the day, Cozart slugged a 1-0 pitch for a home run to left field against Chase Anderson. "I was a little nervous about that because I hadn't tried it in a game other than hitting with it a bit in Spring Training," Cozart said after he went 1-for-3 in the Reds' 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. "Obviously, it felt pretty good. I'm seeing the ball well. When you get out there, timing is everything." Cozart's debut was held back out of maximum precaution after he missed most of the final month of the 2016 season with tendinitis in his surgically reconstructed right knee. There have been no problems with the knee since Cozart reported to camp, and none popped up in his first game action. "I felt pretty good out there, honestly," he said. "You have to get into baseball shape, and my legs started getting heavy in the fourth inning. I'm not ready for nine [innings], but I can play four or five. I felt way better than I did at this point last year going out there. Last year, I was so worried about the knee and how everything was going to go. This time, I didn't even think about the knee at all. I was just playing. I don't have a brace on or anything. It was good to get back out there." There was only one downside to the day. "I didn't get any balls at shortstop, which I hate," Cozart said. As for the batting adjustment, no one suggested Cozart give it a try. He followed the examples of the Cleveland players, as well as Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who also rests his bat on his shoulder before getting into his swing. He also talked to hitting coaches Don Long and Tony Jaramillo about it. "Anytime I've gone through ruts or whatever, it's always me wondering about my rhythm and my hand position and stuff like that," Cozart said. "I was thinking randomly one day, 'Well, why would I not want to take that out of the equation?' If you look at my videos from today, I'm getting to the exact same launch position that I was getting to [before]. I'm just relaxed and then getting there. When your hands are up, you could be more tense. "Of course, three or four months out of the year last year, I felt great and I wasn't worried about it. But the second I felt bad, I started trying to figure this out again and it kind of boggles my mind. It takes it out of the equation. I just rest it here, and then bam, I'm there. So far, so good, I guess." 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. Cozart homers in spring debut; Suarez adds 2B By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | March 1st, 2017 + 6 COMMENTS PHOENIX -- The Reds' Zack Cozart and Brewers' Keon Broxton traded first-inning home runs when the National League Central rivals met for the first time in 2017 at Maryvale Baseball Park on Wednesday. Lucas Erceg ended the game with a walk-off single, scoring Mauricio Dubon, to give the Brewers the 3-2 win. Playing his first Cactus League game, Cozart gave the Reds a 1-0 lead when he connected with one out in the first inning against Brewers starter Chase Anderson, who made his own spring debut with an otherwise clean inning of work. Cozart finished last season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee, and the Reds have been cautious with him at the start of camp. The Brewers reclaimed the lead before Reds right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla recorded his first out. Broxton hit Bonilla's first pitch for a home run, Jonathan Villar followed with a double and Scooter Gennett hit an RBI single for a 2-1 Brewers lead. Bonilla is a waiver claim who is bidding for the Reds' starting rotation. "I was just missing the spots on the outside corner. My arm felt really good today," Bonilla said via translator Julio Morillo. "I know what I have to do. For example, my curveball today wasn't good. It was kind of down and wasn't a strike. I know what I have to practice to get better for the next time out." In the fourth, the Reds tied the game while spoiling the debut of new Brewers closer Neftali Feliz. Scott Schebler led off the inning with a single before Eugenio Suarez hit a game-tying double off Feliz, who came to the Brewers as a free agent on a one-year deal. Reds Up Next: Four Reds regulars -- including Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton -- will be in the starting lineup Thursday when the Reds face the Cubs at 3:05 p.m. ET. Top pitching prospect Amir Garrett will start as he works to make the big league rotation in camp. Brewers Up Next: Matt Garza makes his spring debut when the Brewers travel to Peoria, Ariz., on Thursday at 2:10 p.m. CT. The game will air exclusively via Brewers.com webcast. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. Adam McCalvy has covered the Brewers for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like him on Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Mechanical tweak pays off for Cozart in first AB Righty hitter adjusted hand placement in stance By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | March 1st, 2017 + 39 COMMENTS PHOENIX -- Three days ago, on the heels of watching Indians stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Encarnacion bat against his team, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart decided to try a change to how he set himself to hit. Instead of starting with his hands up by his face while holding the bat Wednesday in his spring debut vs. the Brewers, Cozart kept them relaxed. His bat was rested on his shoulder to start. On the second pitch of his first at-bat of the day, Cozart slugged a 1-0 pitch for a home run to left field against Chase Anderson. "I was a little nervous about that because I hadn't tried it in a game other than hitting with it a bit in Spring Training," Cozart said after he went 1-for-3 in the Reds' 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. "Obviously, it felt pretty good. I'm seeing the ball well. When you get out there, timing is everything." Cozart's debut was held back out of maximum precaution after he missed most of the final month of the 2016 season with tendinitis in his surgically reconstructed right knee. There have been no problems with the knee since Cozart reported to camp, and none popped up in his first game action. "I felt pretty good out there, honestly," he said. "You have to get into baseball shape, and my legs started getting heavy in the fourth inning. I'm not ready for nine [innings], but I can play four or five. I felt way better than I did at this point last year going out there. Last year, I was so worried about the knee and how everything was going to go. This time, I didn't even think about the knee at all. I was just playing. I don't have a brace on or anything. It was good to get back out there." There was only one downside to the day. "I didn't get any balls at shortstop, which I hate," Cozart said. As for the batting adjustment, no one suggested Cozart give it a try. He followed the examples of the Cleveland players, as well as Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who also rests his bat on his shoulder before getting into his swing. He also talked to hitting coaches Don Long and Tony Jaramillo about it. "Anytime I've gone through ruts or whatever, it's always me wondering about my rhythm and my hand position and stuff like that," Cozart said. "I was thinking randomly one day, 'Well, why would I not want to take that out of the equation?' If you look at my videos from today, I'm getting to the exact same launch position that I was getting to [before]. I'm just relaxed and then getting there.