Reds Beat: As Pitchers And Catchers Work, Building Depth and Chemistry Is Priority No. 1, Noelvi Marte ‘Way Ahead’ In Hamstring Recovery

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The process has begun.

We’re several days into pitchers and catchers work at the Reds player development complex just under a mile down the road from Goodyear Ballpark.

For the first time in several years, the Reds are in a spot where roster battles and competition for specific roles are a matter of depth and not need.

Of course, this is built upon the premise that the avalanche of young Major League-ready talent called up during the 2023 season takes that next step and is ready to produce on a consistent basis.

There is the the fifth starter role that presumably belongs to Frankie Montas to start camp. Montas signed a one-year, $14 million deal for this season with a mutual option for 2025. The Reds are banking on him bouncing back from shoulder surgery in early 2023 that limited him to pitching in just one game in September last year.

Montas started 27 games in 2022 between Oakland and the Yankees. The right-hander had the best season of his eight-year career in 2021, going 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA in 32 starts for the A’s.

Pushing Montas for that fifth spot will be lefty Brandon Williamson (5-5, 4.46 ERA, 23 starts in 2023) and right-hander Nick Martinez (6-4, 3.43 ERA, 63 games, 9 starts in 2023), the free agent signed from San Diego for two years and $26 million.

Connor Phillips and Lyon Richardson are two prospects who figure to be on the outside looking in, for now at least. Phillips is a top tier prospect in the organization and made his debut in September, going 1-1 with a 6.97 ERA in five starts.

In charge of this staff are Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile, the two catchers who, in 2023, helped rookies Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson mesh with second-year hurlers Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft.

“We put a lot into the working relationship between the pitchers and catchers,” Bell said. “We had a camp, about a month ago, just focusing on that, where they’re really working close together. Communication is obviously important and studying for a catcher, it’s really a full time job, really developing that relationship, knowing our pitchers, knowing the opposing hitter.

“In some ways, it’s tough to teach, but I think if you’re intentional about it, that’s all that matters. Do you care about it? Our guys are good at it. They’re plenty smart enough and they definitely care about it. So we really do like our situation between Tyler and Luke and some of the other guys we have in camp, have a reputation for being great at that.”

Some observations from Friday in the desert:

Injury updates:

David Bell said Friday that third baseman Noelvi Marte has made great strides in recovering from a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered during winter ball. Bell confirmed Gordon Wittenmyer’s report in the Cincinnati Enquirer that Marte said he’d miss first five days of Cactus League but shouldn’t miss the opener against Washington on March 28.

“Just like he said, maybe four or five days but really that doesn’t put you behind for opening day,” Bell said. “It just puts you behind for the beginning of the Cactus League. So he’s in great shape. He’s way ahead of where he could have been, just the way he’s taking care of himself.”

Lefty reliever Alex Young continues to play it safe with his back but Bell indicated Friday that’s it’s “nothing significant” and expects the reliever to start participating shortly in camp after sitting out a few days. Another reliever, Sam Moll, continues to play catch and build up arm strength after experiencing left shoulder soreness in his offseason program.

Josh Harrison Embraces A Challenge:

No team values the utility player more than the Reds. Josh Harrison, a product of Princeton High and the University of Cincinnati, knows he can bring much more to the Reds clubhouse than just a keen sense of his hometown. The veteran of six big league teams over 13 MLB seasons is someone who has seen it all, and can provide some perspective to a Reds clubhouse that has just six players with more than five years MLB experience. With Joey Votto gone, there is an opportunity there for Harrison, who signed a minor league contract worth $1.5 million if he makes the team.

“You can kind of see definitely with the leaving of Votto who was a veteran presence that was a mainstay in the clubhouse,” Harrison said Friday. “That’s a big presence to lose. But at the same time those that have been around the game of baseball knows that the game of baseball moves on and and sometimes you need guys to step in. No matter where you are, you’ve got to be yourself and that’s what I’m gonna be.”

No one understands the role of a utility player better than Harrison and no manager makes more use of the utility player than David Bell.

“You have guys that show up every day, but there’s so much more support science behind it,” Harrison told me. “And then at the same time, you’ve got guys that need to play and the teams that win are teams that need everybody and use everybody and the said I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity and I’m ready to get going.”

As for his specific role, there’s only one thing he’s not doing: bringing a catcher’s mitt and gear to camp practice.

“That’s not for me to sort through,” Harrison added. “My job is to go out and do what I can, and I’ve done it for a long time. And not to toot my own horn but I’ve done it for a long time, playing a lot of positions. I’m not afraid of any competition. I was an All-Star utility guy, I think maybe the first but that’s in the past. Knowing the game is going, that way versatility helps. I’m the guy that literally got my opportunity being versatile. So I know what this team brings I know and I can bring some more versatility.

“I got all my gloves, you know, the only thing that I’m not bringing this a catcher’s mitt or catchers equipment. But if I needed one of those, I’d borrow somebody’s and then just called pitch outs.”

TJ takes Hunter Greene deep:

After swinging and missing at a fastball, TJ Friedl took deep on the next pitch, driving the offering over the right field wall. All taking swings in live BP Friday against Greene were Jonathan India and Jake Fraley.

Andrew Abbott works on mechanics:

Spring Training is a time to work on the little things that add up to a lot during the season. Such was the case Friday with Andrew Abbott. The lefty starter used a weighted ball to throw backwards against a pad in the pitching area. The reverse motion is designed to build negative strength in his left pitching shoulder. He then tossed a ball against the same pad, exaggerating his pitching motion and follow-through. Abbott began to fatigue down the stretch after starting 8-3. He finished 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in his final seven starts.

Latest 26-man Opening Day roster projection for 2024:

Regulars (9):

C: Tyler Stephenson
1B: Christian Encarnacion-Strand
2B: Matt McLain
SS: Elly De La Cruz
3B: Noelvi Marte
LF: Spencer Steer
CF: TJ Friedl
RF: Jake Fraley
DH: Jonathan India

Bench (4):

C Luke Maile
INF Jeimer Candelario
OF Will Benson
OF Stuart Fairchild

Starters (5):

RHP Hunter Greene
LHP Nick Lodolo
RHP Graham Ashcraft
LHP Andrew Abbott
RHP Frankie Montas

Relievers (8):

LHP Sam Moll
RHP Lucas Sims
RHP Buck Farmer
RHP Ian Gibaut
RHP Alexis Diaz
RHP Emilio Pagan
RHP Nick Martinez
LHP Brent Suter