Reds utilityman Kyle Farmer took nothing for granted this spring.

Farmer already saw his chances to be the everyday shortstop dashed, as it appears that the club will move third baseman Eugenio Suárez to that position come Opening Day. Competing for a bench spot again, Farmer wasn’t sure what the outcome would be.

On Sunday, Farmer was relieved. But it did not come before a few tense moments when bench coach Freddie Benavides summoned him into manager David Bell’s office.

“My stomach was in my throat when he came and got me in the locker room,” Farmer said. “I was like, ‘Oh gosh, here we go.’ Then David called me in and he said, ‘I don’t know if you knew this already, but you made the team.’ Just a weight off my shoulders fell off. He’s like, ‘Oh, you didn’t know?’ I was like, ‘No, I had no idea. I’ve been losing sleep the past two weeks.' But no, it was good. Made the team and I’m ready to go.”

After opportunities at shortstop dried up, Farmer has spent more time lately at first base, which is where he started Sunday in a 7-1 loss vs. the Brewers.

Farmer could find himself filling in at first if Joey Votto is not ready for Opening Day. Votto is trying to catch up after missing nearly two weeks because of a COVID-19 diagnosis.

“I focused a little more on that because I haven’t played it as much,” Farmer said. “I love playing shortstop. It’s my favorite position, but I’ll be ready to go anywhere. That’s my role right now and I'm looking forward to accepting that role and doing the best I can.”

Count Farmer among those who is glad the National League won’t be using a designated hitter in 2021.

“That was very hard for me last year with the DH, but now the chess game comes into play with the manager and the bench and seeing what happens,” Farmer said. “I love not having a DH because that opens a job for me. Being able to double-switch and do that -- hit for the pitcher in tough situations. So I think the chess game is back in baseball, which will be fun.”

Hoffman and De León also get good news
Pitchers Jeff Hoffman and José De León were both competing for spots either in the rotation or the bullpen. They were informed that they not only made the club, but that they would open the year as starters. The date for their first turns has yet to be determined.

“I was really excited that the work we all put in together over the course of when I was moved over here to now [was validated]. Getting a nice result was nice,” Hoffman said after his final spring start Sunday. “I’m really happy that the work didn’t go for nothing. We’re excited to go out there and get that first one and put our best foot forward.”

“It’s going to be my first Opening Day on the active roster. I’m making my debut all over again,” De León said. “It’s going to be my first time starting since my debut, actually, in 2016. Now was a moment I’ve been looking forward to for a while now, so I’m glad I’ve finally earned that opportunity.”

Hoffman’s final outing did not go well. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning and allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks with one strikeout. The crusher was Avisaíl García's three-run homer to left field.

“The plan was to go two innings,” Hoffman said. “It was kind of like giving me a little breather before the season starts. Obviously, I didn’t get there. Definitely not what I wanted to do going into the season; not the one I wanted to end on, but it is what it is. I’m confident and really itching to get this season started. I’m really excited.”

Votto gets a day off
Following having played in back-to-back games in his return from COVID-19 and having missed 12 days, first baseman Joey Votto did not play in Sunday’s game vs. Milwaukee. Votto’s status for Opening Day remains unclear, but hitting coach Alan Zinter wasn’t pessimistic.

“I’m not going to put anything past Joey Votto,” Zinter said. “He’s getting in there. Obviously he has been out for a while and gotten [only 14 at-bats in six games], but he’s jumping back in the game. He’s doing what he needs to do and I would not bet against Joey Votto. I would love him to be ready and I hope he’s ready. I don’t have anything to do with that. We’re just going to prepare him each day and get his mind where it needs to be and get his body where it needs to be. You can see each time he gets in the box, he’s getting a little bit smoother and it’s returning to Joey Votto.”

Garrett and Sims wrap up strongly
Reds lefty reliever Amir Garrett concluded a brief, but perfect, spring with one strikeout over an inning of work Sunday. His spring totals finish at four scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts after his late start because of left forearm tightness.

“I am ready. I tried to get three more strikeouts today, I'm not even going to lie to you,” Garrett said. “I only had one in me. I'm ready to go, I can't wait until April 1. I'm just excited to get the real games in now.”

Right-handed reliever Lucas Sims, who also delayed getting into games, he because of a sore right elbow, followed Garrett with a perfect inning, while striking out one. Sims allowed two earned runs and four hits in three innings over three outings, but he held hitters scoreless in his last two appearances.

“Show starts Thursday. I can’t wait,” Sims said. “I feel really good. There were some small adjustments that we wanted to make over the past two outings. I kept it really simple and finally got to put it all together today.”

Garrett, Sims and possibly Sean Doolittle are slated to share closer duties this season.