Pitchers and catchers: who you need to know (Day 2)
We’re now only nine days and counting away from pitchers and catcher reporting to Goodyear, Ariz., for the Reds’ Spring Training camp. The equipment bus is already loaded and will leave great American Ball Park on Thursday to embark on a three-day, 1,800 mile journey out west. Now, let’s take a look at the next 10 pitchers and two catchers who will also head west come next week.
David Holmberg — LHP
Holmberg, 22, is entering his sixth season of professional baseball and first season with the Reds organization. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the 2009 draft and made his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in an emergency appearance on August 27, 2013. Other than his emergency appearance, Holmberg spent last season with the Double-A Mobile BayBears and posted a 5–8 record with a 2.75 ERA in 26 appearances and 157.1 innings pitched. In December, the Reds acquired Holmberg from the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade that sent veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan to the Tampa Bay Rays.
J.J. Hoover — RHP
Hoover, 26, is entering his seventh season of professional baseball and his third season with the Reds organization. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 10th round of the 2008 draft and was acquired by the Reds on April 1, 2012 in a trade that sent infielder Juan Francisco to Atlanta. Hoover made his major league debut with the Reds later that month, splitting time between Louisville and Cincinnati during 2012. Last season, he tallied 69 relief appearances for the big league club and posted a 5–5 record with a 2.86 ERA.
Mat Latos — RHP
Latos, 26, is entering his eighth season of professional baseball and his third season with the Reds organization. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round of the 2006 draft and made his major league debut with the team on July 19, 2009. The Reds acquired Latos from the Padres for four players including pitcher Edinson Volquez in December 2011. Since that time, Latos has been a staff workhorse, making 65 starts and posting a 28–11 record over the past two seasons. He had offseason surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow, but recently said at the Reds Caravan that he’ll be ready for the coming season.
Mike Leake — RHP
Leake, 26, is entering his fifth season of professional baseball, all with the Reds organization. He was drafted out of Arizona State University with the eighth overall pick of the 2009 draft and made the rare, immediate jump to the big league club, making his debut on April 11, 2010. Last year was a career season for Leake with a career best in wins (14), ERA (3.37), games started (31) and Innings pitched (192.1). In January, he and the Reds avoided arbitration when they agreed on a one-year, $5.9 million contract. With longtime Red Bronson Arroyo likely out, Leake, along with Cingrani, look to assume an even bigger role in 2014.
Sam LeCure — RHP
LeCure, 29, is entering his 10th season of professional baseball, all with the Reds organization. He was drafted out of the University of Texas in the fourth round of the 2005 draft and made his big league debut with the club on May 28, 2010. LeCure has been an important piece of the Reds bullpen the last two seasons, and in 2013, he appeared in 63 games and posted a 2–1 record with a 2.66 ERA. Similar to Leake, LeCure and the Reds also avoided arbitration after agreeing on a two-year, $3.05 million contract in January.
Sean Marshall — LHP
Marshall, 31, is entering his 12th season of professional baseball and third season with the Reds organization. He was drafted out of Virginia Commonwealth University by the Chicago Cubs in the sixth round of the 2003 draft and made his major league debut with the team on April 9, 2006. In December 2011, The Reds acquired Marshall from the Cubs in a trade that included pitcher Travis Wood, among two others. He sat out much of last season with injuries, but if he can return to his 2012 form when he appeared in 73 games and posted a 5–5 record with a 2.51 ERA and nine saves, his production could be key to the Reds bullpen.
Logan Ondrusek — RHP
Ondrusek, 28, is entering his 10th season of professional baseball, all with the Reds organization. He was drafted out of high school in the 13th round of the 2005 draft and made his major league debut with the club on April 5, 2010. Since then, he has appeared in 241 games for the Reds, and last season he made 52 relief appearances and posted a 3–1 record with a 4.01 ERA while also spending a little time in Louisville.
Manny Parra — LHP
Parra, 31, is entering his 13th season of professional baseball and second with the Reds organization. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 26th round of the 2001 draft and made his major league debut with the team on July 20, 2007. Prior to last season, the Reds signed Parra out of free agency and in November 2013, he resigned with the team on a two-year, $5.5 million contract. In 2013, with injuries to relievers Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall, Parra appeared in 57 games with the Reds and posted a 2–3 record with a 3.33 ERA.
Curtis Partch — RHP
Partch, 26, is entering his eighth season of professional baseball, all with the Reds organization. He was drafted out of Merced College in the 26th round of the 2007 draft and made his major league debut with the team on June 9, 2013. Partch spent the majority of last season with the Bats, appearing in 24 games with a 1–2 record and 4.13 ERA, but also appeared in 14 games with the Reds, posting a 0–1 record and a 6.17 ERA. According to Baseball America, Partch has the best slider of any pitching prospect in the Reds organization.
Chad Rogers — RHP
Rogers, 24, is entering his fourth season of professional baseball, all with the Reds organization. He was drafted in the 28th round of the 2010 draft and has been making his way up through the minor leagues ever since. In 2013, Rogers began the season with the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, posting a 3–2 and 2.20 ERA in 13 starts, and was transferred to Louisville on July 4 where he made 12 starts with the Bats and posted a 5–5 record with a 4.22 ERA.
Brayan Pena — C
Pena, 32, is entering his 14th season of professional baseball and first season with the Reds organization. He was signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent in 2000 and made his major league debut with the team on May 23, 2005. Pena has spent the majority of his career with the Braves (2001–2008) and Royals (2008–2012) organizations, but spent 2013 with the Detroit Tigers where he hit .297 with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 71 games. He was acquired by the Reds via free agency in November and will likely come off the bench to provide a bat in the Reds lineup and give Devin Mesoraco an off day when need be.
Corky Miller — C
Miller, 37, who needs no introduction around Reds Country, is entering his 17th season of professional baseball and 13th season in the Reds organization — franchise record 10th season with the Bats. He was signed as a free agent in 1998 and made his major league debut with the Reds on September 4, 2001. From 2005–2009, Miller spent time in the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox organizations. He returned to Louisville in 2009 and has been here ever since. Last season, Miller hit .200 with four homeruns and 19 RBIs in 44 games with the Bats and .257 with eight RBIs in 17 games for the Reds. Entering 2014l, Miller is approaching a number of Louisville franchise records including games played (523), at-bats (1,640), hits (404), doubles (96), home runs (50), and RBIs (231). His experience is very helpful to the organization as he has mentored up-and-coming prospects such as Devin Mesoraco in the past and looks to do the same with Tucker Barnhart this season. Miller will attend this year’s spring training as a non-roster invitee.
