The Reds Storm Into Spring Training

The Reds Storm Into Spring Training by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio –

Reds baseball is back! Yesterday the Reds had split squad action against the Guardians and Brewers. It was great to hear the crack of the bat and have the Cowboy back on the radio call.

The team didn’t disappoint. One half pulled out a nice 6-3 win over Cleveland. Hunter Greene saw his first action of the year. And while it didn’t go entirely smoothly, that’s to be expected this early. The Reds flamethrower pitched 2 innings and gave up 2 runs. His velocity was in the high 90s and overall it was good to see him take the mound once again.

Hunter Greene made his Spring Debut today!

He will look to build upon his excellent 2024 season with his electric arsenal. Taking that next step with his splitter will be key pic.twitter.com/l5dl3N1Qu4

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) February 22, 2025

The pitchers behind Greene were all solid. Connor Phillips and Ian Gibaut looked particularly good as both are looking to return from injuries. After Hunter’s exit the Reds pitchers combined to allow just 5 hits and 1 run over the final 7 innings.

Cincinnati has allocated quite a bit of its resources into their pitching staff. And seeing some of that investment show good returns is very promising. After suffering so many injuries to their starters and those in the bullpen last season, the more quality arms they can trot out will make all the difference in 2025.

But the story of the day was, as always, Elly De La Cruz. 44 went deep twice, once from each side of the plate. He looks to be in mid season form already as they were both no-doubt shots (each was over 100 MPH exit velocity with the longest measured at 450 feet). If Elly starts this year swinging the bat well, it could very well lead to a hot start for this club.

Elly De La Cruz has homered from both sides of the plate today! #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/JY6XQM9RMJ

— MLB (@MLB) February 22, 2025

Though they were a combined 1-4, Christian Encarnacion Strand and Matt McLain had good days. This spring marks their first real MLB action since the fall leagues last year. They, too are looking to bounce back after significant injuries. CES had a single and McLain’s two outs were extremely well hit balls.

The game against the Brewers was an interesting one. It ended on an 8-7 Milwaukee victory via a Vinny Capra walk-off 3-run homer. But there was plenty of positives to take away from this one.

In his first game as a Red, Gavin Lux had 2 hits and 3 RBIs. Santiago Espinal continued his scorching pace from last season with a home run of his own. While he may not be projected to be an everyday player, Espinal may not give the Reds much choice if he continues to swing such a hot bat.

On the hill, Graham Ashcraft threw two scoreless innings. He’s still trying to find his place on Cincinnati’s pitching staff so every outing for him this spring will be extremely important.

And the Reds continue their spring charge today. They take on the San Francisco Giants at 3:05. Nick Martinez will take the mound. The do-it-all starter/reliever signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal for 2025 and looks to continue to answer the call for the Reds this year. He was one of the team’s most reliable arms last year, going 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 142.1 innings. Martinez will face the Giants’ Logan Webb (13-10, 3.47 ERA in 2024).

Happy to report there’s more Reds baseball today❗️ pic.twitter.com/MlEq0gHNtB

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 23, 2025

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The Reds Storm Into Spring Training Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.