Cam Collier and Rhett Lowder impress in MLB Spring Breakout game
SURPRISE Ariz. — The MLB Spring Breakout, a new showcase event that highlights rising young players with top prospects playing against each other, gave 2022 Reds first round pick Cam Collier a chance to show how much he has developed in a year.
Collier was one of the youngest players in Minor League Baseball last year, and he posted a .706 OPS in Low-A. Heading into his age-19 season, Collier focused this offseason on getting stronger, getting into better shape and growing into a stronger power hitter.
Then on Thursday in the first MLB Spring Breakout game on this year’s schedule, he showed his upside with a beautiful swing and an opposite field homer in a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers.
“Last year was a learning curve,” Collier said. “Last year motivated me that much more. Playing in an event like this is amazing. I worked my butt off to get to this point."
Collier took an uncommon route from high school to junior college to the MLB Draft. The Reds drafted him at just 17 years old, and he played a minor league season last year at the age of a high school senior or a college freshman.
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Collier’s up-and-down first full season as a professional showed him where he could grow, and his home run showed an example of his development.
To see it work in this competition (with a homer) is great,” Collier said “It shows me this is my year to do something special.”
Against the Rangers, Reds 2023 first round pick Rhett Lowder worked two scoreless innings. He said that this spring has reminded him about the importance of using all four of his pitches and locating them on both sides of the plate.
Lowder is known for his command and his poise on the mound, and he has had an impressive spring this year.
“I can have success in many different ways,” Lowder said. “Something I take pride in is filling every quadrant of the zone with multiple pitches. It’s not easy to do. But when it’s working, it’s pretty good.”
Nick Martinez dealing with a ribs injury
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez won't start on Thursday "due to a rib that may be displaced," but manager David Bell said that Martinez will pitch on Saturday. After the Reds determined that Martinez wouldn't pitch on Thursday, Martinez threw long toss, so he hasn't been shut down.
Bell said that Martinez has pitched through this issue recently. In Martinez's last outing, he threw four perfect innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reds catcher Austin Wynns is battling a shoulder injury. He's able to hit, but the injury impacts his catching. As a result, the Reds brought catching prospect Michael Trautwein back to big league camp. Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile remain on track to begin the year as the Reds' catchers on the active roster.
Reds shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo tweaked his shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt on Wednesday. Bell said that the Reds were "playing it safe" when he pulled Arroyo from the game. Arroyo is scheduled to get an MRI on his shoulder "to be sure."
Roster battles taking shape
At this point last year, the Reds’ options for the final roster spot were a veteran corner infielder without much big league experience, an outfielder who had played overseas during the previous season and a player who ended up retiring two months after Opening Day.
In 2024, the Reds’ options are stronger.
Josh Harrison, Mike Ford, Tony Kemp and Nick Martini look like they’re competing for the final spot on the Reds’ roster this year. Against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, those players had their best games of the spring.
Kemp, Martini and Ford all crushed homers to right field, Kemp reached base three times, Harrison had two hits and Martini reached base three times.
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“Whoever is left in our camp has a real shot to make our team,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Everyone is playing well. I’m sure it will come down to some tough decisions. For us to see them more out there, they all have a track record. It’s different on a new team. The more they play, the more comfortable they get. It’s a good situation.”
This four-player group not only gives the Reds a stronger pool of candidates for the 26th roster spot but Harrison, Ford, Kemp and Martini give them more interesting options with their various strengths.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cam Collier and Rhett Lowder impress in MLB Spring Breakout game
