3 former Reds failing miserably in spring training, 2 who are dominating

Spring training means different things to different players. For certain hitters it's all about getting their timing down, and some pitchers might use the weeks leading up to the regular season to work on specific grips or tinker with their arm slot.

While Cactus and Grapefruit League stats don't necessarily count, they are one of the few ways to measure a player's success or failure during spring training. Fair or not, some coaching staffs have no choice but to use those metrics in order to make various roster decisions.

A good spring training performance could catapult a player into the starting lineup, while a bad showing could lead to a bench role or removal from the roster altogether. Let's check on three former Cincinnati Reds who are failing miserably this spring and two who've been utterly dominant.

3 former Reds players who are failing miserably in spring training

Fernando Cruz, former Reds pitcher

The Reds swapped Cruz to the New York Yankees earlier this offseason in exchange for their newly-extended catcher Jose Trevino. At first glance, the Reds may have won that trade already. Cruz has endured a tough spring with an alarming 11.12 ERA through six outings with the Yankees. Cruz has allowed eight runs on nine hits, including three home runs.

Nick Castellanos, former Reds outfielder

Castellanos left Cincinnati following the 2021 season. The slugger used his All-Star performance to secure a five-year, $100 million deal from the Philadelphia Phillies. While he's had his moments in Philly, Castellanos has also had his fair share of struggles. The 33-year-old is off to an inauspicious start this spring with a .162/.205/.324 slash line with 14 strikeouts in 13 games.

Sonny Gray, former Reds pitcher

Gray's name was whispered as a possible addition this past offseason after it was revealed that the St. Louis Cardinals were looking to trade the former Cy Young finalist. Gray was coming off a down-year by his standards, and still has a massive amount of money left on his contract. If his spring training numbers carry over to the regular season, St. Louis will never be able to find any takers. Gray has allowed eight home runs in four starts this spring and boasts a horrific 12.56 ERA.

2 former Reds players who are dominating in spring training

Hunter Renfroe, former Reds outfielder

A lot of Reds fans forget that Renfroe was even part of the organization — maybe because he only suited up for 14 games in a Cincinnati uniform during the 2023 season before being released. But Renfroe is off to a hot-start this spring with the Kansas City Royals. He has six extra-base hits, 10 RBI, and a 1.000 OPS, and is looking to secure an everyday role in the Kansas City lineup.

Jonathan India, former Reds infielder

Renfroe's new teammate is excelling this spring as well. The Reds made the decision to part ways with India this winter — trading him along with Joey Wiemer to KC in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brady Singer. Based on the spring training numbers, both teams are probably happy with the transaction.

Singer has a 2.55 ERA with 21 punch outs in 17 ⅔ innings pitched and is locked into the Reds rotation as the No. 4 starter, while India has blistered ball during his first spring as a member of the Royals organization. India is hitting .390/.490/.634 with 16 hits in 16 games. India also has more walks than strikeouts this spring. At the moment, this looks like a win-win trade for Cincy and KC.