Reds spring training update: Connor Phillips, Cam Collier, Luke Maile

The Cincinnati Reds are just about ready to take the field at Great American Ball Park, but have a little more roster trimming to do before making the flight back to the Queen City. Reds fans have seen the team reassign several prospects like Edwin Arroyo and Rhett Lowderand even move on from longtime infielder Jose Barrero.

The Reds roster is currently sitting at 39, so Cincinnati has at least one spot available on the 40-man roster. Once Noelvi Marte's suspension kicks in and he's placed on the restricted list, the number of vacancies will grow to two.

Speaking of prospects, some of the top players in the Reds farm system participated in the MLB Spring Breakout. How did the Reds' top prospects fare during the inaugural event, and what else is going on in Goodyear?

Reds spring training update: Connor Phillips is one phone call away

Reds manager David Bell had some encouraging comments regarding pitching prospect Connor Phillips. According to MLB.com, Bell said, "He’s doing everything he needs to. He’s one phone call away. He continues to develop, and he’s better this year than he was last year already."

Phillips was reassigned to minor league camp earlier this week and will begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Louisville. Phillips' final game in 2023 saw the rookie hurler walk the bases loaded in a crucial games for Cincinnati's playoff hopes. That first inning set the tone and the Reds lost any chance of participating in the MLB Postseason. The right-hander is eager to put that behind him and dominate the opposition during the upcoming season.

Reds spring training update: Cam Collier makes history (sort of)

One of Major League Baseball's newest initiatives to grow the game was the implementation of a new event that was designed to showcase the best young talent in baseball. MLB Spring Breakout took center stage last night, and Reds prospect Cam Collier stole the show.

Collier now holds the distinction of being the first player to ever homer in the MLB Spring Breakout. The former first-round pick mashed a two-run blast in the top of the second inning of Thursday's contest against the Texas Rangers' top prospects. The Reds scored four runs on six hits but struck out 11 times over the seven-inning contest. Cincinnati won the game by a final of 4-1.

Reds spring training update: Luke Maile is mashing

Christian Encarnacion-Strand has hit well this spring, and so has Stuart Fairchild. But for those who haven't been paying attention, Luke Maile has absolutely crushed the ball during Cactus League play.

The Reds backstop is 9-for-19 with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, and more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). Maile's .565 on-base percentage is second only to Jacob Hurtubise among Reds players with 10 at-bats or more this spring. Maile, who signed a contract extension this offseason, will platoon with Tyler Stephenson behind the dish in 2024.

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