Cincinnati Reds shortstop Jose Barrero says swing change is already showing good signs
MILWAUKEE – Everything Jose Barrero does throughout the final weeks of the season will be dissected for how it impacts his chances to hold onto the everyday shortstop job in 2023.
The overall stats are underwhelming. He entered Monday with a .167 batting average and .208 on-base percentage in 120 plate appearances with four extra-base hits, six walks and 52 strikeouts.
It wasn’t that long ago when Barrero was the talk of spring training in 2020 and when he was the Reds’ minor league player of the year for his offensive production in 2021. Those were times when he looked like the club’s shortstop of the future, before pitchers constantly exploited his weakness against offspeed pitches.
Now with several shortstop prospects on his heels, it’s an important stretch for Barrero to carry some momentum into next year. He altered his stance and had better results at the plate over the weekend in Milwaukee. He was the lone Reds who recorded a hit in Saturday's loss.
“Those adjustments have been really paying off,” Barrero said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I’ve been noticing I’ve been able to see the ball even better now. It’s getting better.”
Barrero’s struggles are not for a lack of work. He’s constantly in the batting cages, before and after games, with hitting coaches Alan Zinter and Joel McKeithan.
Altering stances and swings can be a challenging midseason adjustment, but Barrero says he feels comfortable.
“You are always trying to change stuff with your swing,” Barrero said. “You just have to dedicate time into doing that work and preparing yourself well enough. It’s just normal for me.”
Barrero was out of the lineup Sunday when the Reds faced Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, but the Reds are hopeful his work in the cages will lead to results. He was in a 0-for-12 skid before he had a two-hit game Friday.
“I really feel like he’s looking better at the plate, getting more comfortable, especially the last two or three games,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “He’s working so hard and all the things he’s adjusting to, I felt like they’re really coming together for him the last couple of days. I felt like (Sunday), by giving him a day where he’s not starting, could keep that going in the right direction.”
Rehab updates: Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Connor Overton
The Reds have three pitchers on rehab assignments and two more pitchers set to begin rehab assignments in the next couple of days.
► Hunter Greene (right shoulder strain) pitched three innings in his third rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Sunday, throwing 66 pitches to reach his pitch limit. He struck out five and gave up four hits, one run and one walk.
He could return to the Reds’ rotation as early as Friday in St. Louis. That would give Greene time to make four more starts in his rookie season.
"I'm happy where I am and looking forward to finishing the season strong," Greene said. "Going in, my biggest priority his making sure that I'm healthy. I definitely had a focus on working on all my pitches and making sure those are tight so when I get back here I feel like I haven't skipped a beat."
► Graham Ashcraft (right biceps soreness) threw 32 pitches and two “innings” in a live batting practice session Friday in Milwaukee. He is scheduled to make a rehab start for Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday, 45-50 pitches, and it’s possible he could return to the Reds’ rotation afterward.
“Everything was looking good, staying around the zone, hanging in the right spot,” Ashcraft said after his live BP session Friday. “Going into the rehab start, I just have to go in focused on filling up the zone, try to get early contact, keep the pitch count down and do what I normally do.”
Bell said Ashcraft had good results with his slider Friday. If Ashcraft returns to the rotation after only one rehab outing, he could return next week and make three more big-league starts this season.
“I would like to come back and throw against the Red Sox since they haven’t seen me yet,” Ashcraft said. The Reds face the Red Sox in a two-game series at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 20-21.
► Connor Overton (stress reaction in lower back) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Louisville on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Overton is scheduled to throw 55-60 pitches, so he can be built up for a role as a starter or reliever if he has time to return this year.
Overton had a 1.82 ERA in four starts before his injury.
► Robert Dugger (right shoulder pain) followed Greene at Louisville on Sunday. He threw 14 pitches in a scoreless inning while walking two. He’s expected to make another rehab appearance for Louisville on Friday, scheduled to throw 30-35 pitches.
► Daniel Duarte (right elbow inflammation) has yielded four runs on three hits and three walks across his first two rehab appearances at Louisville. He is scheduled to make his next rehab appearance Wednesday.
Reds set club record for pitchers used in a season
When right-handed reliever Luke Farrell entered Sunday’s game in the fourth inning, he became the 36th pitcher to appear in at least one Reds game this season, breaking the club record of 35 pitchers set last year.
The Chicago Cubs used 41 pitchers this season and are the only team to call upon more pitchers than the Reds. The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays are tied with the Reds at 36 pitchers.
Farrell was the 63rd player to appear in a game with the Reds this year, including position players, which leads the Majors. The MLB record is 69 players used by the Chicago Cubs last year. Pittsburgh and the Los Angeles Angels have used 62 players this season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jose Barrero swing change; Cincinnati Reds injury updates
