GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton was back in the lineup on Tuesday, and the rest of the club's ailing position players are getting healthier as well.
Hamilton had previously played in a Cactus League game on March 2. Shoulder soreness limited that to Hamilton's only spring game before going 1-for-3 with a first-inning bunt single in a 4-2 win over the Royals at Goodyear Ballpark.
"It felt like making my debut again; I was so excited," said Hamilton, who was the designated hitter in the leadoff spot on Tuesday. "We just don't want to rush things. We still have a couple weeks in camp and there's no point rushing it."
Hamilton was lifted in the sixth inning and replaced by outfield prospect Kyle Waldrop, who is working his way back from a groin issue. Waldrop has a chance to be back in the field in the next couple of days, according to manager Bryan Price.
"And we'll see on Billy," Price added, "but everything seems to be going pain-free, swinging the bat and throwing. So it shouldn't be too long before he's back in the outfield."
• Catcher Devin Mesoraco will be behind the plate on Thursday. It will be his first game action this spring after a quad issue cropped up during his rehab from offseason hip surgery.
"He'll start with a light workload and build himself up to nine innings, and then back-to-back games," Price said.
• Right-hander Homer Bailey will throw one more 45-pitch bullpen session, using his entire repertoire, and then move to throwing live batting practice next week. Bailey is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2015.