GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Reds came into camp expecting young shortstop Jose Barrero to compete for a roster spot or potentially challenge his way into the lineup. That won’t happen now after Barrero had surgery on Tuesday to repair a broken hook of the hamate bone in his left wrist.

Dr. Robert Sheridan performed Barrero’s procedure in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“Six weeks is the best estimate for him to be back playing,” Reds manager David Bell said.

It’s not known how Barrero was initially injured. He first felt pain in the Dominican Republic during the lockout while he and the club were not permitted to be in contact. After a period of feeling good, the issue cropped up during a team workout last week, and he’s been held out of activity since Saturday.

“He said it felt fine for all that time leading up to Spring Training and then he took a backhand and he felt it again. He pointed to his wrist,” Bell said. “That's what I knew, the fact that it was the hook of the hamate -- I guess it's all connected. I was hoping that wasn't it because of where he told me his pain was.”

Kyle Farmer was already viewed as the incumbent shortstop heading into camp, and he will open the season there. Cincinnati lacks big league shortstop depth, with only Donovan Solano and Alejo Lopez on the 40-man roster having experience there.

Infielder Brandon Drury, who was signed to a Minor League contract on Monday, is not viewed as a shortstop option and can play second base, third base or the outfield.

Gutierrez makes spring debut
Reds right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez made his first start of spring on Tuesday during a 10-8 win vs. the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Gutierrez pitched one inning, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out one and walking none.

Gutierrez gave up a double hit to left field by Dodgers No. 2 hitter Justin Turner. Third batter Freddie Freeman -- making his Dodgers debut -- hit a single to left field. Turner scored on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly.

“It was a pretty good outing. I liked what I saw out there,” Gutierrez said via translator Jorge Merlos. “There were a couple of pitches that the batters were able to hit it well. To Turner, it was a slider that was just hung in the zone. The curveball that I threw to Freeman, that was one that didn’t break enough. But those are the only two things that I saw from this outing, things I have to work on for the next one, too.”

As a rookie last season, Gutierrez was 9-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 22 starts. His year started late as he served the final 20 games of an 80-game suspension for violating the league rules on performance-enhancing drugs while at Triple-A Louisville.

Gutierrez debuted at Wrigley Field on May 28 and went 9-4 with a 3.68 ERA and 11 quality starts in his first 16 games. He ran out of gas down the stretch and was 0-2 with a 9.43 ERA over his final six starts.

“In the offseason, I really worked hard on my mechanics to have enough in the tank to get through the season,” Gutierrez said. “That's what I really worked on. I’m ready to go.”

Strickland agrees to terms
The Reds agreed to terms Tuesday with veteran reliever Hunter Strickland on a big league contract, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal is pending a physical and the club has not formally announced anything involving Strickland.

Over eight Major League seasons with the Giants, Nationals, Mariners, Mets, Angels, Rays and Brewers, Strickland has a 3.11 ERA in 342 games. He split 2021 with three clubs and posted a 2.61 ERA in 57 appearances.