Dietrich putting versatility to use with Reds

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Facing the Mariners' new Japanese left-handed pitcher, Yusei Kikuchi, in the second inning on Thursday night, Reds utility player Derek Dietrich got all of a 1-0 pitch and everyone in the ballpark knew it. All Kikuchi could do was put his hands on his hips and watch as the ball carried well over the right-field fence to the outer reaches of Goodyear Ballpark.

“That was one of my better ones. It was a good one for sure,” Dietrich said on Friday morning about his second homer of the spring.

Kikuchi didn’t appear ready for Dietrich’s power. But Dietrich came to camp ready to hit, ready for anything, after six seasons in Miami and a long offseason of waiting to find his new club. With the Reds, he’s hit the ground running.

“It’s been a smooth transition,” Dietrich said. “I’ve been really excited just to get into a new opportunity and a fresh start for me. You hear ‘change of scenery’ for a lot of athletes and it could be good or bad. I thoroughly anticipated it, but I’m purely happy and blessed to be in a nice situation here.”

Starting as the designated hitter in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Royals, Dietrich was 0-for-2, but came around to score a run after being hit by a pitch.

Cincinnati signed Dietrich on Feb. 19 to a Minor League contract. If he makes the team as a bench player -- and all signs appear to point in that direction -- the 29-year-old will earn $2 million this season with a possible $500,000 in performance bonus money. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins in November.

Because he can play four positions -- first base, second base, third base and left field -- Dietrich has the desired National League versatility.

“It just makes your preparation and work that much more important,” Dietrich said. “In whatever profession, the more you do something, the better you are. For me, at four or five positions, to be the best that I can be, I need to put in a lot of practice in my defensive work early and on my off-days. It’s more an attention to detail and a little more preparation than if I was playing one position every day.”

Reds manager David Bell isn’t afraid to use Dietrich at any spot he can play. He’s played first base, second base and third base so far this spring. Bell expects to get him into the outfield in future games.

“If that’s the way our roster shakes out, it helps a lot that there’s a lot of options there to be able to get him into the lineup, get him into the game and keep him there in a few different places,” Bell said.

But it’s Dietrich's left-handed bat that will especially be needed to provide some punch. In 149 games for the Marlins in 2018, Dietrich hit a career-high 16 home runs while hitting .265/.330/.421 with 45 RBIs and a 2.2 offensive WAR, according to Baseball Reference.

“He’s had a lot of success in the role that he's been in,” Bell said. “He has versatility, but that’s a really experienced bat that provides a lot. He can do a lot of things. He’s been on teams in a lot of different roles. He can swing the bat.”

Last year, the Reds broke camp with five bench players in catcher Devin Mesoraco, outfielders Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin and infielders Cliff Pennington and Phil Gosselin. Going into this season, the bench options appear to be stronger overall with Dietrich, outfielders Matt Kemp, Scott Schebler and Ervin, infielder Jose Iglesias and catcher Curt Casali as the leading candidates.

“I want to make an impact right from the get-go," Dietrich said. "I’m trying to get my best swing off and make things happen."