PHOENIX, Ariz. -- During Saturday’s workout at Reds camp, manager David Bell was using his fungo bat to hit balls to pitcher Michael Lorenzen -- in center field.

Count Bell as impressed by Lorenzen’s skills.

“Did you guys watch him? He looks like he can play,” Bell said Sunday. “I didn’t know how many to keep hitting. He wasn’t even breathing heavy. He made it look pretty easy -- not that it is. He was tracking them down.

“That’s probably the best look I’ve had of him.”

Lorenzen, who has made two pitching appearances this spring, will certainly be one of the Reds' key bullpen assets when the club breaks camp. Bell is targeting the middle of this month to start using him as a center fielder in a few games.

Cincinnati is trying to find ways to get Lorenzen’s bat into games and take advantage of his versatility. He has six career home runs, including four in 2018, but it’s not expected that the right-hander will be regularly utilized in the outfield.

Lorenzen was a center fielder with Cal State Fullerton during college before he was drafted by the Reds in 2013.

Casali’s modified camp not concerning

Backup catcher Curt Casali, who is returning from October left hip surgery to repair a labrum injury, has yet to get into any games this spring. That’s been part of the plan for Casali, who has been catching bullpens, doing drills and working out.

“Progress is going great. I’ve felt good since the moment I got here,” Casali said. “I’m totally on board with the training staff’s plan of taking it slowly. It’s being smart. I’m trying to get into a groove again, but it’s a little bit of a battle to try and get me in there. I do appreciate them being conservative.”

Casali did not have a target date for when he would make his spring debut in a game. It appeared possible that he could return to the lineup later this week.

Despite not having any reps in a game, Casali wasn’t worried about his readiness for the season.

“I’ve never had a modified Spring Training. But if you look at my numbers in the past, I’m terrible in Spring Training anyway,” said Casali, who will back up Tucker Barnhart. “This could be a really good thing for me. All that matters in my book is that I’m ready for these guys on Opening Day in Pittsburgh.”

More injury reports

Left-handed starting pitcher Alex Wood has been dealing with tightness in his back. Wood hasn’t pitched in a game since Feb. 25.

“He had a little bit of a tight back. It’s something I think we all get,” Bell said. “It’s not really slowing him down too much. That was unrelated to the extra time [off]. He’s making progress. He’s still on track.”

Right-handed reliever David Hernandez, who has also been working on an alternate schedule and hasn’t pitched in any games yet this spring, has had right shoulder soreness. However, Hernandez is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday.

Up next

The Reds have split-squad games Monday. At 3:05 p.m. ET in Goodyear, they will host the Cubs with Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker expected to play while the club's No. 5 prospect, Tony Santillan, pitches. At 3:10 p.m. ET in Scottsdale, the other squad travels to play the D-backs. Nick Senzel and Matt Kemp are slated to play while Tanner Roark will make his third start of spring.