GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Reds didn't wait until leaving Arizona to have their planned 26-man roster for Opening Day. On Saturday, the club made its final three Spring Training cuts.
Outfielders JJ Bleday and Rece Hinds and right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell were optioned to Triple-A Louisville. That meant that lefty reliever Sam Moll, outfielder Dane Myers and non-roster first baseman Nathaniel Lowe made the team.
“We’ve talked to everybody," manager Terry Francona said.
Two players, starting pitcher Hunter Greene (right elbow surgery) and lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson (oblique), will open the regular season on the injured list. Not expected to be ready until at least July, Greene is likely to be on the 60-day IL, which opens a 40-man roster spot for Lowe.
Hinds batted .410 with a 1.414 OPS in 21 games this spring and is second on the club with five home runs. Bleday, who was signed as free agent to a one-year, $1.4 million contract on Dec. 27, batted .317 with a 1.047 OPS in 15 games with four homers. But both outfielders have Minor League options.
“Not just that, it was the role. It’s a bench role," Francona said. "We really want Bleday and Hinds to play, and we told them that because they both swung the bat really well. And we talked to Lowe about the role just to make sure. Hinds couldn’t have done more. I was very careful with how I worded it to him, ‘No, you did enough to make the team. The role is a bench spot and we want you to play.’”
Entering Saturday, Moll has worked nine scoreless innings in nine appearances with two hits, six walks and 12 strikeouts.
“I would say the last four outings, his stuff has really ticked up," Francona said. "His changeup has been really good. With Ferguson down, it gives us that second lefty. It just seemed to make sense to us.”
The official roster doesn't have to be set until just before Opening Day, which means a potential waiver claim could bring a slight change. But that also appears unlikely.
“I’m sure that they’re not going to just turn their phones off, I totally get that," Francona said of Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador. "But we made our team for a reason.”
Here is how Cincinnati's 26-man roster looks:
Catcher (2): Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino
The same duo that was behind the plate last season is back. Stephenson is the longest-tenured Red and Trevino is one of the club's most respected veteran leaders.
Infielders (5): Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Sal Stewart, Nathaniel Lowe
The final bench spot went to a non-roster player in the veteran Lowe, who plays first base and will be used as a left-handed bat off the bench.
Outfielders (5): TJ Friedl, Noelvi Marte, Spencer Steer, Dane Myers, Will Benson
Steer will be the everyday left fielder but could shift to other positions for or during games as needed. A strong defender, Myers, who was told he made the club a few days before Saturday's cuts, plays all three outfield spots and gives Cincinnati a true backup center fielder when Friedl needs a day off. Benson also earned his spot with a strong spring.
Designated hitter (1): Eugenio Suárez
Back with the club he spent seven seasons with from 2015-21, Suárez will be needed to provide big power and lineup protection for De La Cruz after he slugged 49 homers last season. He will also get time at first base and his normal position, third base, when it's needed.
Starting pitchers (6): LHP Andrew Abbott, LHP Nick Lodolo, RHP Brady Singer, RHP Rhett Lowder, RHP Chase Burns, LHP Brandon Williamson
With Greene out, the Reds opted to fill the last two spots with three pitchers in Lowder, Burns and Williamson. It's not a six-man rotation, but a "six for five" situation, meaning one of the three young pitchers will pitch in a sort-of-tandem role, but they will all be expected to pitch only every fifth day and not be used from the bullpen in other situations.
Relief pitchers (7): RHP Emilio Pagán (closer), RHP Tony Santillan, RHP Pierce Johnson, LHP Brock Burke, RHP Graham Ashcraft, LHP Sam Moll, RHP Connor Phillips
With the extra starter, there is one less bullpen spot than usual. Phillips was the last right-hander told he made the club during a previous round of cuts. Moll, who is out of options, had one of the best springs out of all relievers on the club and deserved the spot regardless of his options status.