Bell, Reds 'ready to go' as Summer Camp nears

CINCINNATI -- The Reds will hold their first Summer Camp workout on Friday, but players who have cleared the COVID-19 testing protocol have already started trickling onto the field in the last couple of days.

Manager David Bell is happy to embrace what will be a new normal.

“We’re ready to go,” Bell said on Thursday. “A lot to think about. A lot of logistics, planning. It’s like nothing we’ve ever been through before. I do believe we’re going to be great at every aspect. There’s been a ton of planning. We’ve tried to be ahead of everything. No doubt, we’ll be surprised and have to respond. But we’re in as good a place as we can be right now.”

• Reds' storylines headed into camp

The club learned that two of its players tested positive for COVID-19. No other information was revealed except that the players were tested outside of Cincinnati and neither is currently in town.

Because of concerns about the virus, other clubs have had players decide not to play this season -- including former Reds pitcher Mike Leake (D-backs). The Reds have tried to plan for every contingency while maintaining health and safety as the top priority.

“As of today, everyone that was expected to be here is here. No one opted out,” Bell said. “There’s that balance we have to strike. No matter how great we are, there are going to risks. Everyone will understand that and does understand that. But we’re doing everything we can to mitigate that.

“I really think we believe we’ve won the quarantine as far as being prepared. I know it doesn’t count for any wins. I’ve very proud of how we handled it with the preparation from the players and the organization throughout.”

• Breaking down the Reds' player pool

As for preparing for a 60-game season, which will begin either July 23 or 24, there is still much to do. Bell and pitching coach Derek Johnson have ideas on the pitching makeup, but they are waiting to see some things first.

“I will say that whatever we decide from Game 1 may not be where we end up,” Bell said. “There could be different phases that we look at. With the importance of every game, we have to balance that with being able to see where everyone is to make the right decisions as we work through the season.”

Other items worth noting:

• With a regular designated hitter in effect for the first time in the National League, the Reds don’t plan on using one player in the spot. Bell did not name candidates, but with options like outfielders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker, he has plenty to choose from.

“It does make it easier to get guys that we believe in offensively to get them in the lineup. It's not a one-person or even a two-man job,” Bell said. “It's not easy, either, to all of a sudden become a DH. It's a different approach to a game. You have to get used to being into the flow in a different way. There's a lot to think about. I think easing guys into it and staying flexible with who serves in that role each day will probably be the approach.”

• In another new rule, extra innings will begin with a runner on second base. The player who made the final out in the previous inning will be the runner, but the option to pinch-run is there. Bell will have some speedy candidates, including reliever Michael Lorenzen and outfielder Travis Jankowski.

“That will be a factor in building out our roster. We won’t base everything on that, but it will be a thought,” Bell said. “That, in my opinion, will be a great rule. Two years ago, when I was with the Giants [as player development director], I was sitting there in the stands watching Minor League games. I was rooting for extra innings because it was so exciting. You get to see all of this strategy happen in one inning. You know you’re not going to be there all night. You have a pretty good idea of when it’s going to end. I think the fans are going to love it. I think it’s a great rule. Hopefully, it will be a success and we can stay with it.”

• Bell and his coaches will be overseeing the 35 players who work out at Great American Ball Park. But he will also make efforts to see the 22 players who will train at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio. The plan is to mirror the workouts as much possible and keep it consistent.

“There will be players at Prasco that will make our Opening Day roster,” Bell said. “I’m seeing it as a group of 60 right now. So it’s really important to get out there. … I have to say, we have a huge advantage by being able to have access to this facility. It’s an incredible campus. Even over the last week, we’ve added to it. In the end, it’s going to help us win games. We really lucked out having that facility close by.”