Zach Buchanan

zbuchanan@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Robert Stephenson was just about to speak. Then Rookie Davis leaned over and kissed him on the shoulder.

The peck interrupted Stephenson’s response to a question, about competing against his best friends for big-league jobs. The two right-handers were among that group of young starters vying for rotation spots this spring; Davis had earned a spot, while Stephenson was headed to the bullpen.

Stephenson couldn’t help but laugh the comical show of affection. Clearly, there was only love here.

“You don’t really want to every root against anyone, because ultimately at the end of the day they’re you’re teammates,” Stephenson said. “We’re all trying to pull together and win a World Series together.”

On Tuesday, the Reds filled out their pitching staff with four of their most talented starting pitcher prospects. Davis and left-hander Amir Garrett will make their big-league debut in the rotation in Games 3 and 4 of the regular season. Stephenson and lefty Cody Reed will start in the bullpen but are considered starters long-term.

All four are either 23 or 24 years old.

A fifth, righty Sal Romano, was in the mix until the final day. The 23-year-old had perhaps the best spring training of any Reds pitcher, but was optioned to the minors when the roster was set. His friends await his arrival.

“It’s unfortunate for Sal, who had a phenomenal spring,” said Davis. “The reasons why, I couldn’t tell you. But I do know he’ll be in the big leagues sooner than later. I hope he’s up there tomorrow.”

Reds Rookies excited for first Opening Day

Here’s a look at the four who did make the club, and how they got there.

RHP Rookie Davis – 15 ⅔ IP, 4.02 ERA, 17 K, 3 BB in Cactus League

Of the four young starters who cracked the roster, Davis’s ascension to the starting rotation is probably the least likely. Garrett at least had success at Triple-A last year. Reed and Stephenson had already debuted in the majors.

Davis had enjoyed strong numbers with Double-A Pensacola in 2016, but lost velocity due to a variety of injuries. This season, he dropped out of the team’s top 30 prospects, according to some publications. “Tell them thank you, if you don’t mind,” Davis said. “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. But I’m the type of guy that if you write me off, I’m going to do everything I can to prove you wrong. And I did that.”

Davis didn’t look like that diminished pitcher in spring training this year. Now fully healthy, his fastball velocity returned to the 95-96 mph range. Perhaps more importantly, he added a slider that figures to finally provide him with a put-away pitch.

Still, he was on edge when called into the office of manager Bryan Price on Tuesday. Price reminded him that it was cut day, before spilling the beans and revealing he’d made the team.

“I’ve waited 23 years, almost 24 years to hear that,” he said. “It was a special day.”

LHP Amir Garrett – 21 ⅓ IP, 4.22 ERA, 14 K, 6 BB

Garrett couldn’t help but tear up when Price informed him he’d made the rotation.

“My life flashed before my eyes, from where I started to where I am now,” Garrett said. “It was crazy. I was filled with so much emotion, I didn’t know how to handle it.”

The 24-year-old can be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed. He’d worked so hard to rein in his emotions on the field, at some point they had to come out somewhere else.

More than anything mechanical, mental toughness was a focus for Garrett over the offseason. He knows the key to success in the majors is moving past inevitable failure. So over the winter, he pushed his body as far as he could in order to push his mind also. He’d run longer, and would even do endurance wall-sits, a difficult task for someone who is 6-foot-6.

“My mind’s telling me, ‘This is enough, this is enough, this is enough,' ” Garrett said. “But I’m thinking to myself, ‘No, it’s not enough.’ I’m training my brain to get through anything, pain or whatever. When something’s not going right on the field, you’ve got to lock back in. I feel like that’s what’s going to help me get to the next level.”

LHP Cody Reed – 20 ⅓ IP, 7.08 ERA, 20 K, 9 BB

Reed was enjoying a strong spring before completely melting down in his final outing. Now, his role is hard to explain.

“Yeah, I was confused for a little bit,” Reed said.

He’ll start in the bullpen, but is scheduled for a start on either April 10 or April 12. But his fate seems inextricably tied to Bronson Arroyo’s, who is expected to assume the fifth starter role if he remains healthy through his final tune-up on April 2.

The Reds have said Reed will be in the rotation, but have also given no indication that Arroyo won’t be. Reed’s doing his best to read the signals.

“Some people don’t think he will (be in the rotation), but I think he is,” Reed said of Arroyo. “I’ve seen what he’s done all spring with these guys. I think he’s still got it.”

The Reds fully intend for Reed to continue as a starter, whether he’s in the majors or not. They’ve been clear to say he’ll only be available out of the bullpen for a few days.

But if the bullpen is where he winds up, Reed is OK with that.

“If the bullpen’s my thing, maybe I can be the next Andrew Miller,” Reed said. “He was a starter also, and now he’s in the pen and look at him. He’s one of the best in the game right now. If that’s my forte, if that’s what I’m supposed to do, pitch out of the pen, then so be it.”

RHP Robert Stephenson – 16 IP, 5.63 ERA, 16 K, 7 BB

Stephenson’s stay in the minors could last a bit longer, although the Reds still intend for him to start at some point in 2017. Right now, it offers him a simpler environment to adjust to the majors.

“There’s probably a little less pressure coming out of the bullpen,” he said. “It gives me less time to think when I’m out there. I think it’ll be good for me.”

Price had high praise for Stephenson after the roster was set Tuesday, saying he’d taken greater strides this spring than any other pitcher in camp. Stephenson was able to do so despite continued struggles to command his curveball.

The pitch has always had great action, but Stephenson couldn’t steal a strike with it. So in his most recent bullpen session, he picked up a slider. He hopes it allows him to get ahead of hitters without having to throw a predictable fastball.

“The action on it right now I think is really good,” Stephenson said. “I just need to be able to locate it better. I think I’ll pick it up pretty quickly.”

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