Marte optioned to Triple-A; Greene fans 5 in solid outing
Mark Sheldon
@m_sheldonPEORIA, Ariz. -- The latest round of Reds' Spring Training cuts was led by third baseman Noelvi Marte being optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.
After enduring a tough 2024 season, the 23-year-old Marte was viewed as having an outside chance of making the club that also has Gavin Lux, Jeimer Candelario, Spencer Steer, Santiago Espinal and possibly Christian Encarnacion-Strand as options this season at third base.
"He did a really good job. He needs repetition," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "I thought from a work ethic standpoint, he had a great camp. I don¡¯t care what his batting average is. He worked his [butt] off. He came in good shape. He needs to now go play."
In 11 spring games, mostly as a late-inning replacement for the starters, Marte batted .150 with no homers and three RBIs.
The demotion marked a significant departure from Marte's status heading into camp a year ago. He was expected to be Cincinnati's regular third baseman before receiving an 80-game suspension on March 8, 2024, for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Upon returning, Marte batted .210 with a .549 OPS, four home runs and 18 RBIs in 66 games.
"He doesn¡¯t need to take a bus ride and get an at-bat. That¡¯s not going to get him ready," Francona said. "We just told him to knock the door down. That¡¯s the best way. He was good. He looked us in the eye and it was good.¡±
Also optioned to Louisville on Monday were infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan, outfielder Rece Hinds, right-handed starting pitcher Connor Phillips and right-handed reliever Yosver Zulueta. No. 3 prospect and infielder Sal Stewart, who was a non-roster invite, was reassigned to Minor League camp as well.
The Reds have 46 players remaining in big league camp and must trim down to a 26-man roster for Opening Day on March 27.
Greene's solid afternoon
The Reds¡¯ scheduled Opening Day starter Hunter Greene struck out five batters over four innings vs. the Padres on Monday during his fourth spring start. Greene gave up one earned run and two hits with no walks while throwing 49 pitches. He threw an additional 16 pitches in the bullpen afterwards to reach his desired count of 65 pitches.
¡°Definitely was moving the ball around, secondaries felt great," Greene said. ¡°Getting ahead, throwing strikes. Obviously, a very, very good lineup. It¡¯s exciting, always, to face an A lineup. We play for that, to play against the best. It was my first time facing the Padres.¡±
In the bottom of the fourth inning, a first-pitch Greene fastball to Fernando Tatis Jr. was clobbered for a leadoff homer off the batter's eye in center field. Greene recovered to strike out rest of the side in order ¨C Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth.
¡°He got me on one pitch," Greene said of Tatis. "I had 49 pitches, it was one pitch. If that pitch or that hit derails me, there¡¯s a problem. You just get back on the horse and I was able to do that.¡±
That one pitch was clocked at 99.4 mph, according to Statcast. It would be the hardest-thrown pitch Tatis has ever hit for a homer. In the first inning, Greene got Tatis looking at a strike three on a 100 mph fastball.
Both Greene and Tatis came off the field at the same time when their days were done and had a brief exchange.
¡°I just patted him on the butt," Greene said. "He got me, I got him. Just good, competitive fun.¡±