The Reds make first moves of the spring, assign 12 players to minors
GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– The Cincinnati Reds made their first set of roster moves of the spring on Thursday, reassigning 12 players to minor league camp. The group mostly consists of prospects without much experience in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
The Reds reassigned pitchers Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar, Jacob Heatherly, Chase Petty, Reiver Sanmartin and Zach Maxwell, catchers Mat Nelson, Michael Trautwein and Daniel Vellojín, infielders Edwin Arroyo and Tyler Callihan and outfielder Blake Dunn.
Lowder, the Reds’ top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, established his identity as a pitcher who commands four impact pitches, works quickly and pitches with a lot of poise on the mound.
“When you’re in a rhythm, you want to stay in that rhythm,” Lowder said. “It’s something they preached in college. Staying at an upbeat tempo works in my favor.”Arroyo, 20 years old, looks like a big league ready defender. He’s still developing as a hitter and as an athlete. The Reds were impressed with the foundation for his approach at the plate. He stands very far back in the batter’s box, showcased a good eye and elevated a few high fly balls that had a lot of carry on them. He has the potential to develop into a good gap-to-gap hitter.
“I’m using the entire field,” Arroyo said. “I can be a power hitter and try to pull the ball all the time, but that won’t work for me as well as other guys. For me, I’ve got to use the whole field and I’ll be good. My stance is a way I feel like I can see the ball better. Using the stance and being early with my timing, I’ve always hit that way.”
When Maxwell is throwing strikes, he puts on a show. He still hasn’t pitched above High-A, but Maxwell has a chance to make his big league debut this year. If Maxwell develops a better feel for his 100 mph fastball, turns his “gyro cutter slider” into a consistent pitch and stays poised in high-leverage moments, then the 6-foot-6, 293-pound right-hander has the potential to be an impact setup reliever.
“I’ve embraced being bigger and using that energy to blow peoples’ doors off,” Maxwell said. “Just being bigger really helps. I learned my slider on my own. The grip’s mine. I throw it as hard as I can right over the plate and hope something good happens. I call it a hard gyro cutter slider going down. But as long as hitters don’t get to it, I don’t care what they call it.”
Sanmartin, who was on last year’s Opening Day roster, is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Brandon Williamson takes a step forward
Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson turned up the dial in his third appearance of the spring. He spent his previous outing working on his slider. On Wednesday in a split-squad game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Williamson used a more game-like approach.
In four innings, he allowed one run on four hits.
“My arm feels good, and now it’s about getting some velocity back,” Williamson said. “All of my off speed pitches are moving how I want them to. I’m able to pitch and move stuff around how I want.”
Williamson’s best pitch was his curveball. He was working on his slider last week as a way to slow hitters down with an off speed pitch, but Williamson’s curveball on Wednesday looked like a pitch that could consistently create that effect.
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“When I’m throwing that for strikes, it opens up a lot of doors for me,” Williamson said. “Not that it’s Craig Kimbrel’s curveball, but it’s definitely that important to my game.”
Tyler Stephenson starts heating up at the plate
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson didn’t have a hit in the first week of spring training games. Now, over his last two games, he has two homers. Stephenson hit another homer on Wednesday in a split-squad game against the San Diego Padres.
“He’s looking good,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It was just a matter of time. It’s nice to see him drive the ball.”
Also in that game against the Padres, Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft allowed two runs in three innings. First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered for his second straight game, and shortstop Elly De La Cruz singled, drew two walks and stole three bases.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Reds make first moves of the spring, assign 12 players to minors
