THE BASICS
Home stadium: Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way, Goodyear, AZ 85338
Directions: Take I-10 to Exit 126 (Estrella Parkway). Travel south on Estrella Parkway about 3 miles, and Goodyear Ballpark will be on the left. Information: 623-882-3120; Reds.com/spring
Prospect to watch: Tyler Stephenson, C. Stephenson had his best offensive season at Class AA, hitting .285 with six home runs in 312 at-bats. He’s a patient hitter with significant power in his frame, but his swing trajectory doesn’t always allow for it to play and a lack of mobility limits his defensive skill. The 23-year-old will jump to AAA.
Who plays where in the outfield?
The Reds entered the offseason with high-upside options in the outfield. Nick Senzel was their top prospect and proved he could handle center. Aristides Aquino had one of the best starts to a career in major league history with 14 homers and 33 RBI in his first 29 games last August. Jesse Winker crushes right-handed pitching and former first-round pick Phillip Ervin hits well against lefties.
During the winter, the Reds traded potential for some certainty.
Nick Castellanos signed a four-year, $64 million contract and Japanese center fielder Shogo Akiyama signed a threeyear, $21 million deal as the Reds focused on improving their offense. Castellanos will be an everyday player. Akiyama had a .392 OBP with 31 doubles and 20 homers in Japan last year.
Will Joey Votto return to form?
It’s been two straight down seasons for six-time All-Star and former NL MVP Joey Votto. He produced a career-low .768 OPS with 15 homers and 47 RBI in 142 games. He called it an “awful, underwhelming experience.”
He was one of the early arrivals to camp this spring as he looks for more power in his swing. He says pitchers didn’t need to challenge him last year, which led to a huge drop in walks, because he wasn’t doing enough damage with mistake pitches.
Votto overhauled his stance in the second half of the 2019 season, no longer choking up on the bat, and saw some positive results that he hopes to carry into 2020.
– Bobby Nightengale, The Cincinnati Enquirer