Cincinnati Reds: Michael Lorenzen will excel as a two-way player

Get your popcorn ready Cincinnati Reds fans! Michael Lorenzen will take on the dual role of relief pitcher and center fielder during today’s game.

Fans of the Cincinnati Reds have been entertained all offseason. The team acquired the mercurial Yasiel Puig while at the same time rid itself of the disenchanted Homer Bailey. Reds fans are also hotly debating the idea of starting their No. 1 prospect Nick Senzel from the jump this season. But, a move that’s flown under the radar is the utilization of Michael Lorenzen as a two-way player. Don’t worry folks, it’s going to work.

During today’s spring game against the Cleveland Indians, the focus will finally be shifted off the upgrades to the starting rotation, the battle for the starting outfield spots, and who makes the final cut in the Reds’ bullpen. Cincinnati has announced that during today’s game, Michael Lorenzen will not just pitch, but also play in the outfield.

The idea has been kicked around all spring and Lorenzen has been all for it. A former outfielder in college for Cal State Fullerton, Lorenzen has focused fully on his role as a pitcher since being drafted with the 38th pick in the 2013 by the Cincinnati Reds. In 2012, however, Lorenzen was finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.

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The idea of using Michael Lorenzen as a two-way player is a low risk/ high reward situation, especially since we’re just talking about Spring Training. If there’s ever a time to try something outside the box, it’s right now.

Nick Senzel is getting every opportunity to succeed in his new role as the team’s primary center fielder. He’s never played the position before, but the Reds are so desperate to get his bat into the lineup that they’re exploring the idea of their top prospect in center field rather than second or third base.

Versatility is the name of the game in today’s day and age of baseball and it’s good to see the Cincinnati Reds at the forefront. Several players on the this year’s team fill multiple roles. Kyle Farmer is being used as a corner infielder and a backstop. He’s even seen some time at shortstop this spring. Derek Dietrich and Connor Joe also offer versatility to the Reds’ lineup.

The Cincinnati Reds already utilized Lorenzen in sort of a dual role last season. There were several instances where Michael Lorenzen was brought in to pinch hit and stayed in to pitch in the next half inning. There were also times when Lorenzen was brought in as a reliever and got his chance to bat as well.

Lorenzen definitely gives David Bell an additional bat off the bench. It would be foolish to think that Bell is going to waste Lorenzen’s potential at the plate when he slashed .290/.333/.710 in 34 plate appearances last season. Lorenzen’s OPS+ was 169, the highest on the team outside of Tim Federowicz who had just 6 at-bats.

Don’t be mistaken either folks, this wasn’t some harebrained scheme thought up by the Reds’ front office, this was Michael Lorenzen’s idea. He lobbied with the new coaching staff earlier this offseason to play the outfield. That in and of itself needs to be taken into account here. David Bell, via Reds.com, spoke to the idea of Lorenzen’s new role.

"“I’m just excited for him. I’m excited for what he can do for our team. I’m excited about his approach to what he’s trying to do to be prepared to help us in any way. He’s the type of athlete that can do this. We just have to figure out how to make it work, because it’s new. It’s pretty rare. We want to be very thoughtful about how we use that. He’s doing everything he possibly can to prepare himself.”"

Michael Lorenzen is excited, David Bell is excited, and you should be excited too. It’s rare to see an athlete such as Lorenzen attempt to make this type of transition, but he’s shown the ability and determination during his time in Cincinnati. Get your popcorn ready Reds fans, this is going to be fun.