Lux begins outfield trial for Reds

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Gavin Lux brought an old pal into the Reds’ clubhouse Tuesday morning. A long-lost friend from a bygone time in his past.

His outfield glove.

“It was in my trunk,” he said.

Entering his first year with the Reds after coming over from the Dodgers in a January trade, Lux was in the lineup and slotted in left field rather than his usual second base, where he’s played 307 times over his five-year career, including all but one of his 139 games with the Dodgers in 2024.

Lux, 27, had played six games at third base and two at second (and one as DH) in nine spring appearances entering Tuesday.

So forgive him for keeping his outfield glove in mothballs. Technically the last time Lux played left was 2022, but for him it feels longer.

“Maybe a couple games in ’22 but the last time I was out there a good amount probably was ’21,” he said.

The plan all spring has been for the former 1st round Draft pick to spend time in the infield during early Cactus League play, but outfield reps were also expected. In Tuesday’s 8-5 win over the Rockies, Lux fielded a base hit in the fifth inning for the only action in left over his six innings.

Reds manager Terry Francona told Lux earlier in the spring that he wouldn’t put him in left field until he was ready. Two days ago, Lux said the time was right.

“He’s more than willing to do it, and if he can do it, it helps our versatility a ton,” Francona said.

The situation made Francona think back to a similar circumstance with Amed Rosario, who had a short stint with the Reds in late 2024 before he signed a one-year deal with the Nationals in January.

The career infielder had played four years with the Mets, with 387 of his 403 games spent at shortstop, with a mere three innings played in the outfield. He came over to the Guardians in 2021, and then-skipper Francona put Rosario in center field in a Cactus League game to expand lineup options.

“I said to him, ‘Hey man, if you mess up a ball it’s on me, don’t worry,’” Francona recalled Tuesday.

That afternoon, Rosario made three errors in the first inning. He missed his first two chances, then caught the third but “threw it into the dugout,” Francona remembered.

“I went up to him afterwards and said, ‘I said one, man, not three,’” Francona joked. “My point is, it might not be perfect.”

With career highs in home runs (10) and RBIs (50) in 2024, not to mention his 30 career postseason games, Lux’s left-handed bat is a boost for the Reds’ lineup no matter where he plays. He’s also batted everywhere from leadoff to seventh this spring. More options around the field are a good thing, he says, and that’s where the outfield reps come in.

“Someone could get hurt or someone might need a day off. I’m down for wherever they’re gonna throw me, besides catcher,” he said with a smile.

No Abbott yet
Lefty Andrew Abbott was set to make his Cactus League debut Wednesday against the Rangers, but his return will have to wait.

Francona said Tuesday the plan instead is to have the 25-year-old pitch at the team’s Goodyear practice complex in a Triple-A outing. Pitching coach Derek Johnson will stay behind with Abbott while the Reds travel to Surprise for the Rangers matchup.

Abbott has been on a slow throwing progression while recovering from his left shoulder injury. The 10-game winner in 2024 eased into spring after missing the final six weeks of last season with a shoulder strain.

The date for his spring debut has not been determined.

Singer quiets Rockies
Brady Singer rebounded with a strong showing Tuesday against the Rockies.

Acquired in a November trade with the Royals, the right-hander allowed one hit and one walk over four shutout innings with seven strikeouts. He stayed ahead of hitters with a first-pitch strike to 11 of 15 batters he faced.

Four of his strikeouts came on sinkers.

Singer was tagged for two runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings in his last outing on March 1.

“He’s a real serious kid. He takes his craft very seriously,” Francona said. “We’re thrilled he’s here and we think he’s gonna be really good.”