Votto told reporters before Saturday's Cactus League game that he could open the 2023 season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Votto has been able to play for two weeks in the Cactus League after recovering from a torn rotator cuff and left biceps surgery that ended his 2023 season. As Nightengale notes, however, he's still in the process of reaching enough at-bats and defensive innings to feel comfortable enough for the beginning of the year. "I just want to make sure I'm clear: This is a performance-based game," Votto said. "You have to do your job. And I can't come back early, tank and embarrass our organization. I have to come back, perform well and be healthy." It would likely be a short stint on the injured list for Votto, but the assumption that he'd be ready for the start of the season may have been slightly premature.
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Reds' Luke Weaver: Pitches in minor-league game
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Weaver (forearm) pitched in a minor-league spring training game Saturday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Weaver has been dealing with a minor forearm issue this spring and isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day. He's making progress, however, and doesn't seem to be in line for a long absence.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Beginning as fifth starter
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Cessa will begin the season as the Reds' fifth starter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cessa is still trying to ramp up as a starter, so it makes sense that he'll take the Reds last spot in the rotation for now, behind Connor Overton. Cessa posted a 4.57 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 80.2 innings as a swingman for Cincy in 2022.
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Reds' Connor Overton: Opens as fourth starter
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Overton will begin the season as the Reds' fourth starter, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Overton started well for the Reds last season before a back injury shut him down for multiple months, but his 2.73 ERA in 33 innings was fueled by a .204 BABIP and supported by a mere 11.3 percent strikeout rate. Regression and opposing hitters could both hit him very hard in 2023.
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Reds' Chase Anderson: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Anderson was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Reds on Friday.
Anderson was promoted to major-league camp earlier this month and was theoretically in the running for a rotation spot, but the likelihood of him nabbing one was never high. He'll represent rotation depth at Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Williamson was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Reds on Friday.
Williamson pitched well early on this spring as he gunned for a spot in the Reds' rotation, but he struggled in recent outings to punch his ticket to Triple-A Louisville. The left-hander still figures to make a decent number of starts with the big club this season.
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Reds' Brandon Williamson: Smoked in final Cactus League start
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Williamson gave up nine earned runs on eight hits and three walks against the Mariners on Thursday in his final spring training start.
Williamson made some good impressions early on in spring training, but he hasn't looked ready for prime time in his recent outings and is coming off a tough year at Triple-A in 2022. It wouldn't be a shock if he was ticketed for Louisville again to begin 2023.
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Reds' Nick Senzel: Plays third base Thursday
Rotowire
Senzel (toe) started Thursday's spring training game at third base and played three innings, going 0-for-1.
Senzel will begin the season on the IL, but when he's eventually activated it doesn't appear he'll be stepping into the starting lineup. Instead he'll be a utility player, getting time in center field, third and second. Third base is where he actually played in college, though he's always been blocked there at the big-league level.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: New grip on slider
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Ashcraft struck out 10 "B-Team" Padres in Wednesday night's spring training start over six innings. After the start he exuded about the progress he has made with his slider, a pitch he's using a new grip for, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Everything is working how we want," Ashcraft said. "The slider is the best it's ever been for me."
Between the reports of Ashcraft hitting 100 mph and now his new-and-improved slider, he's graduated to the level of last-round dart-throw intrigue. He obviously needs to face tougher competition, but he now has 25 strikeouts in 17.1 spring training innings.
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Reds' Luis Cessa: Will be able to ramp up as starter
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Reds manager David Bell confirmed that Cessa will have enough time to build up for starting duties by the beginning of the season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Cessa was pitching with Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic prior to Sunday, and he threw only two innings in the WBC before his departure. The right-hander went three innings during Sunday's spring start against the Brewers, and it's reasonable to expect he'll go deeper in his next Cactus League appearance. At this point, it seems Cessa is a lock to begin the year with the Reds in their starting rotation.
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Reds' Nick Senzel: Making spring debut Wednesday
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Senzel (toe) will make his Cactus League debut Wednesday against the Padres, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Senzel isn't starting the game but will come in off the bench as the Reds ease him into action. The outfielder has been brought along slowly this spring following a pair of surgeries on a fractured toe. He'll remain in extended spring training while the Reds head north before eventually starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. Senzel is expected to play center field, third base and possibly some second base while on his rehab assignment.
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Reds' Lucas Sims: Will open season on injured list
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Reds manager David Bell confirmed Wednesday that Sims (back) will open the season on the injured list, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Sims has been bothered by back spasms, and the reliever won't be ready for the start of the season. Bell also said that Sims along with Luke Weaver (forearm) will likely pitch in rehab assignments for Triple-A Louisville before they're ready to join the Reds. Assuming he has no further setbacks, Sims has a good chance to pitch in the late innings for Cincinnati in the middle of April.
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Reds' Luke Weaver: Advances to bullpen session
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Weaver (forearm) threw a bullpen session Wednesday in Reds camp, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Weaver is ramping back up from a bout of right forearm soreness, but he is expected to open the season on the injured list and then head out to Triple-A Louisville for a rehab assignment whenever he is deemed fit again for live competition. The 29-year-old should be an option for the Reds' rotation around mid-to-late April if all goes well from this point forward.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Pitching Wednesday in MiLB game
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Santillan (back) is scheduled to pitch a minor-league game Wednesday for the Reds in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
This will be Santillan's first appearance of the spring -- albeit on the minor-league fields -- as he has been sidelined with a back strain that also saw him miss action during the 2022 campaign. The right-hander is hoping to be ready for his 2023 debut by mid-April, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he'll open the regular season on the injured list.
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Reds' Nick Senzel: Could make Cactus debut Wednesday
Rotowire
Senzel (toe) is listed as a reserve on the Reds' roster for Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The Reds haven't confirmed that Senzel will definitely play in the game, but he does appear poised to make his Cactus League debut. Senzel has been slow-played this spring while working his way back from a couple surgeries on his fractured toe and seemingly hasn't progressed as quickly as hoped. However, he's game-ready now, and while he'll begin the season on the injured list, a return at some point in April looks likely.
The Reds reassigned Lopez to minor-league camp Monday.
Lopez was removed from the 40-man roster prior to camp and failed to make the team as a non-roster invitee. He'll represent utility depth at Triple-A Louisville.
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Reds' Silvino Bracho: Ticketed for minor-league camp
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The Reds reassigned Bracho to minor-league camp Monday.
Bracho, who was attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee, owns a lifetime 4.88 ERA and 15.7 K-BB% across 95 relief appearances in the majors over parts of six seasons with Arizona and Atlanta. The 30-year-old will likely need to make a positive impression at Triple-A Louisville to begin the season before Cincinnati entertains adding him to its MLB bullpen.
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Reds' Stuart Fairchild: Sent to Triple-A
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The Reds optioned Fairchild to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
Fairchild hit well in a 38-game sample for the Reds last season and also had a solid spring at the plate, but he won't be part of the Opening Day roster. The 27-year-old should factor into Cincinnati's outfield mix at some point this season.
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Reds' Jake Fraley: Starting Monday
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Fraley (leg) will start in right field and bat fifth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Angels.
Fraley left early in Sunday's game against the Brewers after fouling a ball off his leg, but his entry into the Reds' spring lineup one day later implies that his removal was likely precautionary. The 27-year-old has turned in a monstrous .986 OPS to go with four stolen bases through 13 games this spring and should be in strong position to enter the regular season with a strong-side platoon role either in the corner outfield or at designated hitter.
