Lorenzen taking shot at fifth spot
Right-hander getting mixed results in bid to open season in rotation.
Michael Lorenzen is getting GOODYEAR, ARIZ. — inconsistent results as he tries to win the fifth spot in the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation after being used exclusively out of the bullpen the last two seasons.
The right-hander has made two solid appearances and one wild one during spring games, which hasn’t helped his cause. He’s got a few more chances to make his case for a move back to the rotation. The alternative is to open the season as a middle-inning reliever.
“It’s about what you’re going to do about it,” Lorenzen said. “It is about whether you make the most out of your own situation.”
Lorenzen made his major league debut in 2015 and had 21 starts along with six relief appearances for the Reds. He went 4-9 with a 5.40 ERA overall, and Cincinnati decided to move him to the bullpen.
His best season was 2016, when he went 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 35 games. He was used in late-inning roles last season and was inconsistent — a 2.93 ERA before the All-Star break and 6.32 afterward. He
finished 8-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 70 appearances.
Raisel Iglesias returns as the closer. The Reds signed right-handers Jared Hughes and David Hernandez for set-up roles, limiting Lorenzen’s options in the bullpen at the outset.
He’s competing with three others for the only open spot in the rotation. If he doesn’t get it, he could move back into the bullpen.
Lorenzen pitched two solid innings in his first game this spring, but failed to last two innings the next time out. He gave up five runs, five hits and two walks while retiring only five batters. He couldn’t throw strikes with any of his pitches.
“I don’t know what it was, but I know it wasn’t right,” Lorenzen said.
He worked on his delivery during his throwing sessions the next few days and was better in his following appearance, allowing one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings.
“First you figure out what it is and then every time you throw a ball, you work on it,” Lorenzen said. “It comes from understanding what is that’s causing you to be out of sync, then getting the habit out of you and retraining your nervous system to be in sync.”
Lorenzen was a center fielder at Cal State-Fullerton and closed games because he could throw hard. The Reds drafted him in 2013 and decided to turn him into a starter in the minors. During his rookie season, Lorenzen went 3-8 with a 5.92 ERA during a span of 18 consecutive starts, and the Reds moved him into the bullpen.
Parade grand marshals named: Two former Reds pitchers-turned-broadcasters will lead this year’s Opening Day parade — which won’t actually be on Opening Day.
Reds all-time saves leader Danny Graves and six-season veteran Sam LeCure were named Friday to serve as grand marshals of the 99th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade on April 2.
The market’s merchants decided against doing the parade on March 29, when Major League Baseball begins its season and the Reds host the Washington Nationals. They cited conflicts with their Easter weekend business.
The parade is a colorful mixture of floats, marching bands, celebrities and politicians.
The Reds announced recently that Graves and LeCure will join former Reds Jeff Brantley and Doug Flynn as color commentators for lead broadcasters Marty Brennaman and Jim Day.
Sean Casey was the 2017 grand marshal. Ex-Reds manager Lou Piniella handled the honors in 2016.