Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo shows increased velocity in spring training debut
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — After Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo missed nearly the entire 2023 season with a tibia injury, his spring training has been full of signs that he’s in store for a promising season.
Lodolo made his spring training debut, and showed some more reasons to be optimistic. Lodolo pitched two perfect innings, and his fastball hit 96 mph.
“I felt good, and the ball was coming out well,” Lodolo said. “My arm felt good, there’s no question about that. My whole body, I feel happy with it.”
Lodolo is going through a typical build up to get ready for the season. Since his start to the spring was slightly delayed as he completed his rehab, Lodolo is targeting being activated on April 9 to make his regular season debut.
Last year, Lodolo’s average fastball was 93 mph. He showed an increase in velocity in his first game of the spring.
“This whole offseason, from a throwing progression, has been pretty normal,” Lodolo said. “I was a little slower with my mound buildup. My throwing program was the same.”
Where Elly De La Cruz could slot into the batting order
On Sunday, Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said not to read too much into the Reds’ spring training lineups. The exception to that might be Elly De La Cruz, who has been hitting in the No. 2 spot in the order throughout spring training.
“It’s obvious with his talent and his speed,” Bell said. “I’d like him to hit toward the top of the order if possible. I won’t force it. He’s the one I’ve thought most about. He has hit second for most of the spring. Other than that, there’s not much to read into (the lineup). I haven’t started thinking too much about it yet. I’d say most likely, today’s lineup wouldn’t be terribly off from what it could be. It could be pretty close to something like that.”
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On Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians, TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer both got off days. They’ll both be in the lineup just about every day and hit pretty high up in the order, but most of the lineup looked like something the Reds could use often this year: Jonathan India, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Jake Fraley, Jeimer Candelario, Will Benson, Tyler Stephenson, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Mike Ford.
Emilio Pagán makes impressive spring training debut
Reds reliever Emilio Pagán had sports hernia surgery during that offseason, and his rehab delayed his spring training debut. Pagán pitched in his first game of the spring on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he retired all three batters he faced.
Pagán, who Reds manager David Bell said he “fully expects” to be ready for Opening Day, struck out two batters in an impressive spring debut.
“He’s a good teammate in the bullpen who doesn’t have to know that he’s just pitching the eighth inning,” Bell said. “He probably will pitch the eighth and the ninth. He’s just able to do whatever to help us win games. He has just been a good pitcher for several years. He has just fit right in.”
After years of making minimal investments in the bullpen, the Reds gave Pagán an aggressive offer to be a setup reliever this season. His experience, durability and his fastball have all helped make the eighth-year veteran an impact reliever.
“I lean on my fastball a lot,” Pagán said. “It sounds crazy because hitters want to hit the fastball. For me, it’s why I’m in the big leagues. It’s a riding fastball, and it’s an outlier with the extension and the approach angle that it comes from. I believe I have the best fastball in baseball, and I need to pitch that way. If I’m leaning on my fastball and I’m confident, I believe I can get anyone out.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo shows increased velocity
