Francona, new faces bring fresh vibe to Reds camp

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Trying to create a winning atmosphere isn't always about grand gestures and bold statements. It can be subtle, too.

At Reds camp under new manager Terry Francona, it's been noticeable during the early days of Spring Training. When players are doing drills or engaged in live batting practice, the blaring music that had been part of the complex's background noise in the past is turned off.

Work is getting done more efficiently with less dead time or standing around. There are fewer meetings than past years. Players arrive, get their work done and leave.

"We¡¯re going to practice how we play. Once October comes around, you don¡¯t even think about it," infielder Gavin Lux said.

During the offseason, the Reds added Lux, backup catcher Jose Trevino, starting pitcher Brady Singer and outfielder Austin Hays. It was not a coincidence that in 2024, all four were in the postseason with their previous clubs. Lux was on the World Series-winning Dodgers and Trevino played for the American League champion Yankees.

Of course, the most prolific winner added was Francona, who managed two World Series champions with the Red Sox and an AL pennant winner in Cleveland.

¡°We talked about it. It is important to have guys who understand what that grind is like, what that playoff grind is like," president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. "It starts with Tito. ¡­ He knows what it¡¯s like to bring that to the field every day.

"We have a lot of younger players that have not been to the playoffs. Just bringing in some playoff experience is a really good thing.¡±

The Reds, who fired manager David Bell last year with a week remaining in their 77-85 underperforming season, had a shortage of clubhouse leadership especially after they moved on from Joey Votto following the 2023 season.

Cincinnati last went to the postseason during the shortened 2020 season and was eliminated in two games. The franchise hasn't won a division title since 2012 and hasn't advanced in a playoff series since 1995.

¡°Just come in and go about your business the right way. Carry yourself the right way," said Hays, who was also with the Orioles in the 2023 postseason. "You have a lot of guys that are doing that and you build that culture together. There¡¯s going to be leaders on this team and guys who want to win. [It¡¯s] how can we come together as a unit and move the organization and team in the right direction and play to win.¡±

Culture-building inside among the players is one part of the process toward win-building on the field.

"You get a bunch of guys and do stuff together, going out to dinners," Lux said. "You feel like -- one through nine -- these guys have got your back and you¡¯re pulling for each other, and that¡¯s all that matters over the course of 162. Once you get in the playoffs, all the guys in the dugout have got your back.¡±

¡°It starts in the clubhouse," Singer said. "The guys last year, we were so tight in Kansas City. We were a pretty good group of friends and we just loved coming to the ballpark competing. It was something special happening every night. We kind of just built off that. We never felt out of it."

On the field, the Reds often lacked offense and the ability to put games or series away. That showed, as they were 15-28 in one-run games. Mistakes -- namely baserunning -- were often costly, and accountability was lacking.

¡°Accountability in the clubhouse is something every good team has," Hays said. "The players and guys inside the clubhouse, they hold each other accountable.¡±

The Reds won only 27 games in which they trailed, which was tied for third fewest in the Majors. There were 16 shutout losses, their most since 2014. In the first games of series last season, Cincinnati was 33-21, just behind San Diego (33-20) for the best record in the Majors, before falling flat in the remaining games.

"Good teams and winning teams find ways to win games," Lux said. "Especially in the playoffs, it turns into a street fight for sure. It¡¯s how it is. I think you have to prepare yourself all year that in the biggest moment, you¡¯re comfortable making that play."

Francona saw signs of veteran leadership building before he even arrived at camp. On a Reds Caravan trip to Louisville while riding the bus, he could overhear Trevino talking to catching prospect Alfredo Duno.

"He had him corralled and they were going over catching," Francona said. "[I thought], ¡®This is great.¡¯ When a teammate, especially one that had just played in the World Series and with his defensive reputation, when he talks, people are going to listen. I could tell a player the same and if you do it too much, you¡¯re either overcoaching or panicking. When a teammate does it, you¡¯re being a great teammate.

¡°It¡¯s easy to say the right thing but when you¡¯re doing it by example also, it¡¯s more powerful.¡±

The Reds now have several lead-by-example players in 2025.

After years of losing, will it finally lead them to October baseball?