Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings February 25, 2018 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1957-The U.S. Supreme Court decides, 6-3, that baseball is the only professional sport exempt from antitrust laws MLB.COM Lorenzen impressive in bid for rotation spot Williams struck by foul ball in dugout; Reed struggles in outing By Mark Sheldon MLB.com Feb. 24th, 2018 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As he tries to return to the rotation, following two-plus seasons as a reliever for the Reds, pitcher Michael Lorenzen was pleased with his first spring start. As the Reds took an 11-4 loss to the Rockies on Saturday, Lorenzen pitched two innings with one earned run, two hits, no walks and three strikeouts. "It felt great," Lorenzen said. "A lot of weak contact, tons of ground balls, ground-ball outs and strikeouts. That's what I'm looking for, especially at Great American Ball Park. I threw everything that I have to offer. Everything felt crisp, good." Lorenzen threw all of his pitches -- the four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, changeup, and sinker. Following a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, he encountered some trouble in the second inning. A bloop double to left-center field by Jordan Patterson put a runner on, and he scored on a strikeout-wild pitch in the dirt to Tom Murphy. A throwing error by catcher Devin Mesoraco allowed the run to score. A Brian Mundell single to center field accounted for the other hit. "The only thing that I'm going to go into my next bullpen is fastball command and just getting the timing down," Lorenzen said. "It's all timing and sequencing. It's going to get a lot more crisp." Especially for his first game of spring, Reds manager Bryan Price felt Lorenzen was sharp. "I thought he threw the ball really well. I was really pleased with the way he threw. He had a nice mix of pitches." Williams struck by foul ball There was a scary moment in the Reds dugout when outfielder Mason Williams was struck by a Phillip Ervin foul ball in the fourth inning. Williams, a non-roster invite, spent several moments lying on the dugout floor while being tended to by team trainers. After several moments, Williams was able to sit on the bench and was later able to walk to a cart and be taken off of the field. He was holding a towel over his mouth. "He got a cut across his chin or cheek," Price said after the game. "He may need a stitch or two. I'm hoping that's all it is." Reed takes some lumps Reds pitcher and bullpen candidate Cody Reed took the loss on Saturday after he replaced Lorenzen. Reed gave up four earned runs and five hits over two innings with no walks and two strikeouts. Nolan Arenado slugged a third-inning solo homer before three Colorado hits and three more runs came in the fourth. "He got hit. You can live with that," Price said. "Last year, he struggled a bit with his command. Today, he was on the plate with his full assortment of pitches. Things will get better for him." Siri suffered thumb injury The news was not good for Reds outfielder and No. 22 prospect Jose Siri. On Saturday, Price noted that Siri injured the ligaments in his left thumb during Friday's game against Cleveland. He crashed into the wall during the eighth inning trying to catch a fly ball and had to leave the game. "He'll be immobilized for some time," Price said. "We don't know how long. But he won't be in the lineup in the near future." Price was disappointed for Siri, the organization's hitter of the year in the Minors last season at Class A Dayton, because he wanted to see him play. "Now is the opportunity I'd have and the staff would have to see him perform," Price said. "I love the effort going out there and trying to run that ball down out there in center. He ends up trying to make a tough play on the fence." Up next In split-squad games that both begin at 3:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, the Reds will host the Indians at Goodyear Ballpark on MLB.TV. Homer Bailey will make his spring debut against Trevor Bauer. At Glendale, the other group will face the White Sox with Luis Castillo facing Jordan Guerrero. Reds receive custom 'new toys' on Glove Day By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Feb. 24th, 2018 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It was a chilly Saturday morning outside the Reds' Spring Training complex but that didn't matter to the players who wanted to stop and visit with the representatives from Wilson Gloves before going inside where it was warm. Reds players that use Wilson include starting pitcher Homer Bailey, shortstop Jose Peraza, outfielder Phillip Ervin, reliever Kevin Quackenbush and top prospect Nick Senzel. "I always love the new gloves," Ervin said. "It's like a new little toy for me. I get to break it in, play with it and custom mold it how I want." Senzel, rated by MLB Pipeline as the Reds' No. 1 prospect, needed new gloves to help make his switch from third base to shortstop. He had an 11.75 inch model A2000 for his original position but went to 11.5 inches for shortstop. The smaller glove makes it easier to get the ball out faster and make throws. "It's just exciting to get a new glove every year," Senzel said. "You look forward to coming to Spring Training, you get all of these gifts and presents. Glove Day is the most exciting day, I think. You get a couple of gloves, including your customized one. It's a cool experience for all of us." Wilson lets the players customize their gloves, including the embroidered names stitched on the side. Senzel chose "JS Family MS," with the initials representing his father, Jeff, and sister, Madison. The three have the same inscription tattooed on their wrists. Ervin's model from last year appropriately has "I got it," stitched on it, since he's an outfielder. This year, he chose "Stay hungry," as he tries to make Cincinnati's 25-man roster. However, Ervin's new glove won't get pressed into game service soon. "I use the one I got last year," Ervin said. "I'll probably break it in the whole year before bringing it in [a game]. I usually use the one I got the year before so I can break it how I want it to be." Senzel also doesn't rush new gloves into games. "It takes a little bit," Senzel said. "Obviously I want to try and break them in quick. It will take a while." Reds sign veteran lefty Perez to Minors deal By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Feb. 24th, 2018 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As Spring Training camps opened two weeks ago and players reported, veteran left-handed reliever Oliver Perez could only remain home and wait for a call. When it finally came, Perez wasted no time. In a deal that appeared to come together quickly, the Reds signed Perez to a Minor League contract on Saturday and brought him into camp as a non-roster player. The 36-year-old will compete for a bullpen spot as a situational reliever. If he makes the team, Perez will earn $1.25 million this season, with an additional $500,000 possible in performance bonuses. He can opt out of his contract at the end of camp if he does not make the club. "I've been around the league. Sometimes it's quick. Sometimes it takes long," said Perez, a native of Mexico who makes his home in the Phoenix area. "I am excited to wear a new uniform." Represented by agent Scott Boras, Perez noted that the Reds were the first team to call about signing him. "I want to be there, because normally the first team that calls [is] the team that wants you," Perez said. "I like to be with a new team, because it's fresh air and I'm excited to be here." A veteran of 15 Major League seasons, initially as a starter, Perez had been with the Nationals the previous two years. In 2017, he posted a 4.64 ERA in 50 appearances and 33 innings. From 2002-10, Perez was mostly a starter for the Padres, Pirates and Mets. Following his release from New York, he spent '11 in the Minors and Mexican League and worked to convert to a reliever. In '12, he joined the Mariners' bullpen. Over the past six seasons in bullpens for Seattle, Arizona, Houston and Washington, Perez posted a 3.74 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. For his career, lefty hitters have batted .231 against him, compared to .249 for right-handed hitters. Last season, lefties batted .227 compared to .283 for righties. "We don't have a lot of left-handed relief depth - at least not of the experienced nature," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "[Perez] has a track record of being very, very tough on left-handed hitters. He's been durable. He found niche for himself in the left-handed relief role. "We love the competition to come out of camp with our best possible team in every realm. I'm looking forward to him coming out and showing what he's got to contribute and seeing if he's one of our best seven or eight relievers coming out of camp." Cincinnati currently has one lefty locked into a bullpen spot in Wandy Peralta.