3 under-the-radar Reds players off to a good start in 2023

The Cincinnati Reds have gotten off to a better start than most experts and fans assumed they would have. In fact, were it not for some late-game collapses this Reds team could actually have a winning record.

This year's team, if nothing else, has been fun to watch. Manager David Bell has a group of gritty, hard-nosed players who are running the bases well, playing solid defense, and getting quality pitching from most of their starters.

But while the likes of Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, and Nick Lodolo have been playing up to expectations, there've been a few Reds players who've had some unexpected contributions thus far. Which three under-the-radar Reds players have gotten off to a good start in 2023?

1. Reds LHP Alex Young has gotten off to a good start in 2023.

The Cincinnati Reds entered the offseason with but one left-handed reliever on the 40-man roster. After spring training was complete, Alex Young emerged as another left-handed option for David Bell to turn to out of the bullpen.

Young has not disappointed since coming to the Reds. Young's 1.42 ERA is the lowest among all pitchers on Cincnnati's staff. The southpaw has eight punch outs in 6.1 innings of work while issuing just one walk.

While Reiver Sanmartin had been the Reds primary left-handed relief pitcher, last year's rookie has been a bit erratic to begin the year. Sanmartin has appeared in five games, and while he was five strikeouts, Sanmartin has also issued three free passes.

Alex Young put up good numbers last season in San Francisco, but was strangely made available during the winter and signed to a minor-league deal. His under-the-radar performance may have gone unnoticed among a great deal of the fanbase, but the coaching staff has certainly been paying attention.

Bell seems to prefer Young at the moment when he's looking to exploit a left-on-left matchup. Obviously Young won't be able to pitch every day, but it appears at the moment as though Young will be getting the higher-leverage situations.

3. Reds RHP Fernando Cruz has gotten off to a good start in 2023.

Fernando Cruz did not look good on Opening Day. In fact, if we're being honest, Cruz's lack of success after relieving Hunter Greene during the fourth inning is a big reason why the Cincinnati Reds lost their very first game of the 2023 season.

In his first outing of the year, Cruz walked three batters, including two free passes that resulted in runs scoring. The right-hander was only able to secure on out before being removed. Cruz threw 24 pitches in less than inning with only 10 landing for strikes.

But, since then, Cruz has been one of David Bell's best weapons out of the bullpen. Since Opening Day, Cruz has allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out 11 and walking only one batter. In fact, had Cruz not been overused on Friday night (34 pitches) after Connor Overton's brief outing, those numbers would look even better.

Why didn't we see that version of Fernando Cruz on March 30th against the Pittsburgh Pirates? Was it nerves? The weather? Who knows? Who cares? The important thing is that the version of Cruz that Reds fans were able to see last September is the same pitcher who's been on the field during the month of April.

If the Cincinnati Reds are going to have any measure of success in 2023, their bullpen must improve. We all know that Nick Krall and the Castellini family are not going to invest in bullpen arms this season, so any improvement is going to have to come from players already on the 40-man roster or in the minor leagues.