CINCINNATI -- Although currently on the 15-day injured list with what's listed as a left hamstring strain, Reds closer Alexis Díaz has been using the time to work on a mechanical adjustment with pitching coach Derek Johnson that he hopes will bring more strikes.
After a couple of successful bullpen sessions, Díaz threw a simulated inning of live batting practice to teammates Spencer Steer and Jacob Hurtubise on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. He used an estimated 15 pitches. The club even used Díaz's entrance music as he warmed up.
"I felt really good out there," Díaz said via translator Jorge Merlos. "I was attacking the zone like I normally do. Everything seemed like it was working. Those workouts I’ve been doing with DJ on my front leg have been working well."
Díaz initially missed early Cactus League games in Arizona because he felt something in his hamstring during fielding drills. Once in games, and after saying he was fully healthy, he often struggled to throw strikes and manager Terry Francona held off on confirming that the 2023 All-Star was his closer for this season.
On the final day of camp, the Reds decided to put Díaz on the IL and give him more time to get his legs and stuff right. The right-hander felt like his front leg was right again, especially after strengthening work.
"At the beginning, it felt like my leg was going both sides, kind of going all over the place. Now it’s been much more stable," Díaz said. "I’ve been able to use it well and that work has been going well. It seemed like everything just happened so quickly out there where we were just able to make that change and it happened to work out well."
There is not yet a timetable for when Díaz might go on a rehab assignment. He is eligible for activation on April 8.
Without Díaz, Francona has opted not to designate a closer from his bullpen. Ian Gibaut blew a ninth-inning save opportunity in a 6-4 loss to the Giants on Opening Day. Emilio Pagán picked up the save in the Reds' 3-2 win on Saturday.
Like Pagán, relievers Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers have past closing experience. It's also very possible that Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft could get closing opportunities at some point.