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Corner topic: Votto, Frazier under scrutiny in Cincy
First baseman hopes knee is in top shape; third baseman takes on everyday role

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 01/14/13 2:56 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- One corner of the 2013 Reds infield holds the cornerstone of the franchise, first baseman Joey Votto. The other side contains third baseman Todd Frazier, who helped hold the infield foundation together when it was showing some cracks last year due to injury.

While the Reds prepare to defend a National League Central Division crown, both corners of their infield have important tests to pass in Spring Training, and beyond. Is Votto's surgically repaired left knee 100 percent again? And if it is, will it return to him the form that made him one of the best hitters in baseball?

As for Frazier, he played regularly much of last season by filling in for Votto and Scott Rolen. Now he'll be assuming the role of a true everyday player by replacing Rolen. Can he not only make a smooth transition but build on his rookie year success with an even more robust season?

The 2010 NL Most Valuable Player Award winner, Votto doesn't have to prove himself in a manner like Frazier, but his knee will be highly scrutinized during camp. If it's good to go, there will be great relief.

Last month, the 28-year-old Votto wasn't ready to declare his knee 100 percent, but he was pleased with his progress, nonetheless.

"I can run at full speed, do jumping and do a lot of strength work. As far as improving, it's been a great deal," Votto said during Redsfest.

In 2012, Votto batted .337 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs and a .474 on-base percentage. Despite playing 111 games, he still led the league with 94 walks.

Votto was on his way to an MVP-caliber season when a late June slide into third base at San Francisco injured his left knee. Tests a couple of weeks later revealed a cartilage tear, and he had surgery in mid-July. A setback during rehab forced a second surgical procedure, and Votto wasn't able to return until the first week of September.

After he missed 48 games, it was clear Votto's knee limited his abilities. In 28 regular-season games upon returning, he batted .299 and used his plate discipline to draw 29 walks but had no home runs. And despite his hitting .389 in the five-game NL Division Series loss to the Giants, he had no homers and no RBIs.

"I was certainly upset from getting injured and not being able to play to my potential and have an immediate impact at certain times during games," Votto said. "Time off has done me good, and the chance to strengthen, rehab and recover has helped quite a bit also."

In 128 games during his first full season, Frazier batted .273 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. He didn't crack the lineup until mid-May, when Rolen went on the disabled list, but Frazier was indispensable playing first base while Votto was out, batting .305 with eight homers and 32 RBIs during that period.

Cincinnati did not wait for the free agent Rolen to decide if he was playing in 2013 before anointing Frazier as his successor at third base.

"I want to help this team," Frazier said in November. "I want to have that starting role and try to lead again and bring all of that energy that I do."

Although Rolen's production dwindled considerably the past two seasons because of injuries, it still won't be easy to replace an eight-time Gold Glove winner and a possible future Hall of Famer.

Able to play all over the infield and outfield, Frazier has never had a set position in pro baseball. But his defense at third base was more than competent, and he has the opportunity to keep improving with regular time at one spot.

"The bottom line is I'm going into Spring Training with my mind knowing I've got a position," Frazier said. "That's the comfort level I'm talking about: being positive and understanding you are the best at what you do. I will just keep grinding and keep having fun."

The Reds will have added depth at third base with the arrival of free agent Jack Hannahan, who signed a two-year, $4 million contract in December. Hannahan, a 32-year-old lefty hitter for the bench, spent his last two seasons in Cleveland. In 105 games in 2012, he batted .244 with four homers and 29 RBIs but missed some time with a back injury.

Another former Indians player, Jason Donald, played 12 games at third base last season. Donald, a utility player who was part of the trade that brought Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati, batted only .202 in 43 games last season but is a .257 career hitter.

Should Votto need a day off, Frazier could always move over to first base, and Hannahan can step up to third base. If more depth is needed at first base, the Reds could look to prospect Neftali Soto, who hit 14 homers with 59 RBIs at Triple-A Louisville last season. Soto also set a career high with 116 strikeouts in 122 games.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Hanigan's emergence bolsters Reds behind plate

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 01/07/13 3:25 PM ET



9/28/12: Ryan Hanigan gets off a quick throw to catch Andrew McCutchen trying to steal third base in the seventh inning


Reds pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 12. As part of an Around the Horn series of stories on the club at different positions, MLB.com will examine the 2013 Reds as they prepare to defend their National League Central title, and perhaps go further. First up: catchers.

CINCINNATI -- Although Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan might rank lower on name recognition for fans outside of Cincinnati, especially with Buster Posey and Yadier Molina in the National League, he commands respect.

The 2012 season was one in which Hanigan emerged from the shadows to become more prominent than ever. It creates plenty of optimism for what he can do entering 2013.

Reds starting pitchers last season were fourth in the NL in ERA while their relievers had the best ERA in the Majors. That reflects a bunch on the guy receiving the ball and not just the guys throwing it and for a career-high 112 games and 98 starts last season, it was Hanigan.

Among Major League catchers, Hanigan's 3.05 ERA for his pitchers was the lowest in baseball. He caught 11 of the staff's 12 shutouts and six of the nine complete games, including Homer Bailey's Sept. 28 no-hitter at Pittsburgh.

Opposing baserunners know Hanigan, too, as he nailed an NL-best 48 percent (32-of-66) attempting to steal.

Hanigan, 32, is entering the final year of a three-year, $4 million contract with Cincinnati. He and veteran Ramon Hernandez spent 2009-11 in a strong tandem system that produced results, especially offensively.

When the Reds passed on retaining the free agent Hernandez last winter, Hanigan was expected to split the job with prized rookie Devin Mesoraco. But when Mesoraco sputtered, especially offensively, Hanigan became the primary catcher.

"I trained for it in the offseason to be a starting guy and to catch as many games as they want me out there," Hanigan said in October. "I always tell them to run me out there and that I'm ready for whatever."

The preferred catcher for Bronson Arroyo for several years, Hanigan also became the main batterymate for ace Johnny Cueto and new arrival Mat Latos. The reviews were usually strong. Hanigan also became preferred by Aroldis Chapman, and sometimes if he wasn't starting, he entered games to work with the then-closer in the ninth inning.

Offensively, Hanigan often had a disciplined approach as he hit .274 with a .365 on-base percentage while batting mostly in the No. 8 spot. Partly as a result, his overall production took a dip as he notched only two home runs and 24 RBIs after having six homers and 31 RBIs over 90 games in 2011.

Reds catchers -- Hanigan, Mesoraco and Dioner Navarro -- combined to rank 29th of 30 teams with nine homers and 28th with 50 RBIs.

Mesoraco will return looking for success after a rookie season that proved frustrating. He batted .212 with five homers and 14 RBIs in 54 games.

After he served a two-game suspension for bumping an umpire, he was briefly demoted to Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 23. But after his return in September, he was given only three at-bats and was left off of the postseason roster.

"I'm still the player most people think I can be and I was at one time," Mesoraco said in September. "It's not like it's been 10 years that's changed me. It's been 200 at-bats maybe. Whenever I get a chance again I will show that I am the same player."

Mesoraco, who is still only 24, largely caught for No. 4 starter Bailey and No. 5 starter Mike Leake. His pitchers went 24-24 in the games he started and the staff had a 4.19 ERA when he was behind the plate. Only 20 percent of runners (10-for-49) were caught stealing.

One could wonder if Mesoraco might have benefited from a trip to Louisville earlier last season to stay sharp and get his confidence back as a hitter. The organization can only look forward now, though.

Not used to playing sparingly, Mesoraco could get more playing time if he shows improvement this spring. The Reds wouldn't mind giving Hanigan more rest to keep him from wearing down offensively later in the season.

Should anything happen to Hanigan or Mesoraco, the Reds would have some depth issues. The club has no prospects in Triple-A, and after Navarro signed a big league contract with the Cubs this winter, the Reds have only veteran Corky Miller waiting in the wings. Miller is a clubhouse favorite and handles pitchers well but batted .235 last season at Louisville and owns a .188 career average in the Majors, where he last played in 2010.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Izturis signed, camp invites

The Reds on Monday announced 15 Spring Training non-roster invites. One of the more newsworthy is they signed veteran SS Cesar Izturis to a minor league deal.

Here is the full list: RHP Nick Christiani, LHP Wilkin De La Rosa, RHP Justin Freeman, RHP Drew Hayes, RHP Chad Rogers, C Nevin Ashley, C Tucker Barnhart, C Corky Miller, IF Emmanuel Burriss, IF Cesar Izturis, IF Kristopher Negron, OF Billy Hamilton, OF Ryan LaMarre, OF Denis Phipps and OF Derrick Robinson.

Izturis will compete for a backup middle infield spot with Burriss and Jason Donald.

“He adds competition, mainly defensively and he provides insurance,” Reds GM Walt Jocketty said of Izturis. “With [Didi] Gregorius gone, we’re trying to add more depth there.”

A well-traveled former All-Star, Izturis is a lifetime .255 hitter over 12 seasons. He spent last season with the Nationals and Brewers, batting .241/.254/.343 in 62 games. He turns 33 on Feb. 10 and has also played for the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals and Orioles.

Also a big name on this list, but not a surprise, is top prospect Billy Hamilton. It will be Hamilton’s first big league camp and first Spring Training as an outfielder.

http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/2013/01/1...p-invites/

Just have to hope Votto really is healthy and they didn't screw him up any last season.

Frazier should have had the 3rd base job all along. I think it affected the team when Dusty put Rolen back after all Todd had done all summer long. It was a lousy move. Frazier is a heck of a player. I enjoy watching him each and every time he walks onto the field. He makes plays.