This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds reconvened at their player development complex Wednesday after Tuesday was a rare Spring Training off-day. It's now a little more than two weeks into camp and there's been only a handful of games, so it's still quite early in the process of setting a 26-man roster.
But there are definitely opinions forming and trends developing. Here are five observations to this point.
1. Yes, there really is a different feeling
Talk is cheap, and discussing a team's camp vibe is usually about as valuable as pocket lint. Reds fans starving for a playoff club (last Cincinnati division title: 2012; last playoff berth: 2020) don't want to buy it, and I won't try to sell it. So maybe we won't call what's going on at this camp a vibe, but there's no denying that the atmosphere is different from recent years. That has a lot to do with new manager Terry Francona.
I mentioned this in a recent newsletter, but it's important to note. Everything is geared towards getting work done and winning. There is no wasted time in workouts. There are fewer meetings held than under previous manager David Bell. Coaches are doing more instructing during drills. When talking to players, you get the sense they are already prepared to run through a wall for Francona. A likely future Hall of Fame manager, he is a skilled communicator and has shown he is fully invested in winning. There are more veteran players with winning track records in the clubhouse this year, and they lead by example. If a younger player isn't picking any of this up, his eyes and ears aren't open.
Obviously, all that counts during the regular season are wins and losses, and that's ultimately what Francona and this group will be measured by. However, none of what I'm seeing and hearing out here can hurt their chances.
2. De La Cruz looks locked in already
During live batting practices, All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz was often squaring up balls and hitting them hard. One comebacker through Nick Martinez's legs last week was tracked at 113 mph. In the first game vs. the Guardians on Saturday, De La Cruz slugged two home runs -- one from each side of the plate -- and already equaled his total for all of last year's Spring Training. He has also looked smooth and fluid on defense. All are positive developments.
3. Rotation competition
Despite talk that the rotation and pitching roles haven't already been set, it seems like they’re very close to being figured out. Hunter Greene, Brady Singer, Martinez and Nick Lodolo are locked in if they're all healthy. It's all about the fifth spot -- up for grabs among Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, Carson Spiers and Rhett Lowder.
Because of his left shoulder issues last year, Abbott is on a slower throwing progression and has yet to face hitters. Lowder, who was shut down with right elbow discomfort in January, is throwing again but has yet to work from a mound. I doubt Lowder will be ready when it's time to break camp. It's still early enough for Abbott to catch up, but if he doesn't get ready in time, it'll really become a two-man battle between Ashcraft and Spiers.
4. The bullpen feels mostly set
The Reds added relievers in the offseason and brought back Brent Suter, plus they have several non-roster contenders in camp. Based on track records and contract statuses, Alexis Díaz, Sam Moll, Taylor Rogers, Emilio Pagán, Scott Barlow, Tony Santillan and Suter give the club seven of its eight relievers, barring developments. If Ashcraft or Spiers don't make the rotation, either could be the eighth reliever. Non-roster pitchers like Alex Young, Bryan Shaw, Josh Staumont and prospects Luis Mey and Zach Maxwell will have to fight their way into the picture with great camps.
5. Guys with health concerns look … healthy
Save for Abbott and Lowder, Cincinnati's injury report has been relatively mild. Spencer Steer, who had right shoulder soreness that kept him from playing third base last season, has started throwing again after a few weeks of being limited. Matt McLain, who missed all of last season because of left shoulder surgery, looks very good. McLain is hitting and fielding with no limitations. Jeimer Candelario, who had a poor 2024 and missed the last six weeks with a broken toe, looks trim and is moving around well. Ditto for Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who played only the first month of last season before a broken hand finished his year way too early. Encarnacion-Strand is also leaner and impressed the club with his skills enough that he's back in the mix at third base as well as his normal first base.