GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The latest Spring Training cuts by the Reds came on Tuesday, and they included the pitching prospect who has been one of the most impressive in camp -- left-hander Cody Reed.
Relievers Layne Somsen and A.J. Morris, first baseman Brandon Allen and Reed were reassigned to the Minor League camp. That brought the spring roster down to 40 players. Like all clubs, Cincinnati will need to be at 25 players for Opening Day vs. the Phillies on April 4.
Reed, the Reds' No. 3 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, posted a 3.97 ERA in four Cactus League games, including three starts. He also pitched two scoreless innings in a "B" game this spring.
Although Reed came to camp with a shot at making the Reds' rotation, or bullpen, the club seemed to prefer that he get more time to develop in the Minors. He spent just over a half a season in Double-A last season.
Reed, who turns 23 on April 15, gave up four earned runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings vs. the Padres on Monday night. He allowed his first homer of spring -- a two-run shot by Wil Myers -- and his first two walks of spring during the game.
Somsen was impressive as well while competing for a bullpen spot, and didn't give up a run in any of his first five appearances. However, he followed Reed on Monday and allowed four earned runs with three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
More notes from Tuesday
• Second baseman Brandon Phillips was scratched from Tuesday's 9-6 loss to the Cubs about an hour before game time. The club said that Phillips had a stiff neck.
• Adam Duvall is a leading candidate to be part of a platoon in left field, but he's made a couple of appearances this spring at third base -- including vs. the Padres on Monday. It's a position he's played only once in the Major Leagues, but he has manned the spot in 417 games over six Minor League seasons -- including 46 games last year at Triple-A.
"We're not introducing a new position, but it is one he's kind of going back to and reinvestigating somewhat," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's very helpful for a guy like Adam if I get in a late-game situation and I'm burning through my bench, I know he can play both the corner infield and the corner outfield spots, it's valuable to me and to our team. I think he's looked very comfortable over there."
• Price was pleased that reliever Keyvius Sampson looked good in his one inning vs. the Padres after he had allowed three walks in one inning his previous outing. Sampson is vying for a middle-relief role in the bullpen.
"It was just good quality strikes with good stuff," Price said. "Keyvius, compared to where he was in that Milwaukee game, was a night-and-day difference. Three out of four games, he's been really good and sharp with good velocity and command of the strike zone and really good breaking stuff. And the one game he was so out of sorts, missing high with his fastball repeatedly. It just didn't look like the same guy."