Senzel misses third straight day (elbow)
CINCINNATI -- Reds center fielder Nick Senzel missed his third straight scrimmage on Sunday because he’s dealing with a hyperextended left elbow. The team is viewing Senzel as day to day.
Senzel was injured during Thursday’s scrimmage while taking a swing.
“He should be back out there playing [Monday] or the next day,” Reds manager David Bell said. “There’s no long-term concerns or anything like that. If it was the season, potentially he’d be playing as early as [Sunday]. Initially, he was going to play the next day. There hasn’t been any real concern so we thought he would be on the field. But we just played it safe each day.”
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In his first at-bat on Thursday, Senzel slugged a home run to left field against Michael Lorenzen. Bell has raved about the second-year player’s fitness since the workouts resumed. Senzel was still rehabilitating from a surgically repaired right shoulder during Spring Training and would not have been ready for the originally scheduled Opening Day.
Senzel, 25, batted .256/.315/.427 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs in 104 games last season as a rookie for Cincinnati. But he also missed time with numerous nagging injuries and was shut down for the rest of the year to have a torn labrum in his shoulder repaired on Sept. 24.
Galvis working with Moustakas, Garcia
As preparations for Opening Day, July 24 vs. the Tigers continue, Reds shortstop Freddy Galvis has been getting re-acquainted with his new double-play partner at second base -- Mike Moustakas.
“I think it’s been good so far, man,” Galvis said. “As long as we’re talking and communicating, we’re going to be good. … When you have a lot of years in the league and you know what you’re doing, the big part is communicating with each other and trying to be on the same page. He’s a pretty good athlete. He knows what to do. I think we can do it really good.”
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Galvis has also been sharing his knowledge with shortstop prospect José Garcia, who is the Reds' No. 5 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Garcia has been training among 22 players at the alternate site, Prasco Park, but has done some workouts and scrimmages at Great American Ball Park as well.
The veteran Galvis was impressed with Garcia as he spoke to him about positioning and keeping his attention on the game.
“I think he’s going to be really good. He has all the potential to become a star,” Galvis said. “For me, it’s trying to help him. We’re on the same team. I will try to make him good, try to make him comfortable and that way, I know he will help the team pretty soon. He has all the tools. I always wish the best for him.”
Jankowski’s speed an asset
Outfield candidate Travis Jankowski has been unique in that he has split his Summer Camp going back and forth between GABP and Prasco Park. Jankowski was back at GABP for Sunday’s scrimmage and played right field for the gray-pants-wearing visitors. He was 3-for-3 with three singles, an RBI and a stolen base. He was also caught stealing once.
Jankowski is looking to make the team as an extra outfielder and his chances could improve with the Opening Day roster expanded to 30 players. Able to play all three outfield spots and one of baseball’s fastest runners, he can also be an asset as a pinch-runner in tight games or the designated runner who starts an extra inning on second base.
“My goal is to be able to steal a base at a 90 percent clip with every single person in the stadium knowing that I'm stealing,” Jankowski said. “For me, that's my game, that's what got me to the big leagues. That's what hopefully keeps me in the big leagues for a while, speed and defense. It even goes to the extra-inning rule. If someone hits a single to left field and I'm on second base, I need to be able to score on that. It's really taking pride in the little things and the baserunning and doing my job.”
Scrimmage recap
The visiting side took a 7-2 victory during Sunday’s five-inning scrimmage. In the first inning against Tyler Mahle, Kyle Farmer hit a solo home run. It became a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning on Jankowski’s RBI single to left-center field and prospect Jonathan India’s two-run homer to left field.
For the home side, Aristides Aquino hit a one-out homer to center field against reliever Cody Reed in the bottom of the fourth.
Shogo Akiyama was 3-for-4 with two doubles -- both down the right-field line and two RBIs.
Mahle gave up one earned run and three hits with two strikeouts in his two-inning start. For the home side, lefty Wade Miley pitched three scoreless innings with one hit and three strikeouts.