GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Alexis Díaz emerged from Spring Training surprise to Reds closer as a rookie in 2022. This year, there is no mystery to D¨ªaz's role. He will be Cincinnati's closer once again, expected to lock down games from the beginning of 2023.

While it's far down on the list of priorities, D¨ªaz needs to figure out what his entrance music will be. The 26-year-old right-hander appears prepared to crowdsource for suggestions.

"I¡¯m still on that homework assignment right now," D¨ªaz said Wednesday via translator Jorge Merlos. "I may need some help from a couple of fans or people who are good at choosing music to help me figure out what song I should pick. I want the fans to be in a good mood and have fun when I go out there.¡±

D¨ªaz's brother, Mets closer Edwin Díaz, turned his bullpen walk-out song -- "Narco," by Timmy Trumpet and Blasterjaxx -- into a Citi Field sensation last season.

¡°Yeah, I have to find a song that¡¯s just as good or better than what my brother has," D¨ªaz said before pitchers and catchers held their first workout.

In 59 appearances last season, D¨ªaz led the Reds with seven wins and 10 saves out of 14 attempts, while posting a 1.84 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Over 63 2/3 innings, he struck out 83 batters with 33 walks and five home runs allowed.

D¨ªaz was not initially expected to make the team out of camp last year after he spent the 2021 season at Double-A Chattanooga.

"He was handling everything in camp. During the season, he just had composure," Reds manager David Bell said. "He had a confidence about him. There were a couple of points in camp where we were talking about who was going to make the team and who we were going to send out. I remember a few of us speaking up and saying, ¡®We can talk about anybody, but not D¨ªaz. D¨ªaz needs to stay.¡¯

"[It was] his personality but also the swing-and-miss he was getting from his fastball. It was different. It really just stood out. It ended up turning out to really make him successful."

Using primarily that four-seam fastball and his slider, D¨ªaz's K percentage of 32.5 percent was ranked in the top-7th percentile according to Statcast. The fastball had a whiff percentage of 31.1 percent.

"He¡¯s got a good slider, too, but it¡¯s a special fastball," Bell said. "The swings guys were taking, it caught our attention.¡±

Throughout last spring and during the season, D¨ªaz never felt overwhelmed facing big league hitters.

¡°I¡¯m going to compete," he said. "It doesn¡¯t matter who is out there, whether it¡¯s a great player or not. I¡¯m going to compete as much as I can. I know I am going to be better than them.¡±

This spring, D¨ªaz will be taking part in the World Baseball Classic, representing Puerto Rico. Also on the squad is Edwin, who will be one of his teammates for the first time.

¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to compete with my brother on the same team," D¨ªaz said. "Fortunately, we¡¯ll be able to do that this time around. We¡¯ve been hoping and dreaming for this day forever. We¡¯re just anxious for it to come around. It¡¯s an honor to represent Puerto Rico. I am really excited to get going.¡±

Since becoming Reds manager in 2019, Bell had been hesitant to designate a specific closer, preferring to use his best relievers in the toughest portion of opposing lineups. He certainly pushed D¨ªaz into those high-leverage situations last season.

"He's going into the season as our closer, [but] there are times where if it's an important game and he's fully available, we might use him earlier than that," Bell said. "He's been that good. [We're] just keeping in mind that he's still learning, he's still improving. ¡­ We just know there's ways that he can get even better."

Now that Bell and pitching coach Derek Johnson have D¨ªaz at the back-end of the bullpen, they can work backwards and have an easier task setting up roles for their other relievers. Lucas Sims could be the primary set-up man, with Buck Farmer, Fernando Cruz and Reiver Sanmartin among those who get used in the later innings.

¡°I will be available whenever the team needs me," D¨ªaz said. "I feel like I¡¯ve prepared myself this offseason for those situations. I have full trust in myself that I can do the job that needs to be done.¡±