GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Entering camp, Gavin Lux's experience at third base consisted of one Major League game and four in the Minors. After playing there in most of his games at Spring Training, Lux felt confident that he could handle the job during the regular season.

"I think with all of the chances I’ve gotten -- plays-wise -- I feel pretty good about it," Lux said Saturday morning. "I think it’s getting as many reps as possible. Coming in, I told Tito [manager Terry Francona] wherever you want me, that as long as I am not just thrown into it. He did a really good job of communicating with me and helping me navigate the little bit of bouncing around.”

Lux, who was the regular second baseman last season for the Dodgers, also has more significant experience at shortstop and left field.

With Cincinnati, Francona is expecting to use the 27-year-old Lux mostly at third base or left field.

“I think Luxie has done a really good job wherever we’ve put him," Francona said. "He’s been open to it. He’s made all the throws, all the plays.”

There were questions last year about Lux's ability to make throws from the left side of the infield because he struggled as a shortstop at Dodgers camp in 2024. Rather than it being the yips, as was often reported, Lux blamed the issue on missing all of 2023 with a right ACL tear in his knee.

Once Lux was acquired by the Reds from the Dodgers in a Jan. 7 trade for a Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick and a Minor League outfielder, he added fielding and throwing from third base to his offseason routine. But he's made the most adjustments to playing the position in Cactus League games.

“It was more getting outside and getting more game reads," he said. "Getting reps off a fungo is a lot different than a grown man top-spinning the ball at 110 mph at you. The more game reps and trying to read swings helps. I think I’ve gotten enough of that.”

Lux won't be the only third baseman for Cincinnati, which could also use Jeimer Candelario, Santiago Espinal or Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

Offensively, Lux is batting .270 with an .858 OPS and one home run in 16 spring games and feels more locked in than he was at the start of the '24 season.

“Last year was different coming off the injury," he said. "It’s another year removed from that. I think I’m in a lot better place than I was last year, mentally and more comfortable with my knee now. I think getting another year removed from surgery I feel a lot better than where I was at this time last year.”

Stephenson showing improvement

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who will open the season on the injured list because of a left oblique strain, was re-examined by team doctor Andrew Razzano on Friday.

“He’s doing really good," Francona said.

Stephenson was cleared to begin rotational exercises and is scheduled to undergo a second MRI on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

“If that comes back clean, then we can start to do some other things," Francona said.