After six weeks of spring training in Arizona, right-hander Robert Stephenson learned he made the 25-man roster when the Reds were playing exhibition games in Atlanta two days before Opening Day.

Stephenson went from the last player to make the club to a reliable reliever in the bullpen. In his first full season as a reliever, he finished with a 3.76 ERA in 64 ⅔ innings, striking out 81 and walking 24. He was proud that he earned more opportunities in high-leverage situations at the end of the year.

Walks were an issue throughout Stephenson’s career, but he improved his fastball command last offseason.

“I mean, complete 180, the way I feel going into this offseason than I did last offseason,” Stephenson said. “I felt like last year there was a lot of work to be done. I think this year I took big strides and I’m really happy about the way the season finished up for me.”

During the final two months of the season, Stephenson posted a 1.35 ERA with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 20 innings. His biggest negative is that he allowed three of his seven inherited runners to score during that stretch.

The Reds are confident that Stephenson will continue to emerge as a late-inning option in the bullpen. His slider is one of the top swing-and-miss pitches in the sport.

“We’re all so happy for him,” Reds manager David Bell said of Stephenson. “We’ve always known he’s had the talent, but it’s been a big year for him from a confidence standpoint. And when you talk about results, the results have been there. I think he’s just really in a good place, personally, and he’s comfortable.”

Stephenson, who had a 7.98 ERA across 11 appearances in July, felt the more opportunities to pitch in tight games was the biggest reason he gained confidence. He knew there would be some things he had to learn moving from starter to reliever, but it took time to become a trusted reliever with a small lead.

“I think it says a lot about the coaching staff, just how much confidence they have in me,” said Stephenson, who was the 27th pick in the 2011 MLB Draft. “I think that was one of the biggest things for me was knowing they trusted me, and it allowed me to trust myself. The more and more I got to pitch in those situations, the more fun and easier it got for me.”

Entering the 2019 season, Stephenson was out of minor league options, so he always knew it was a make-it-or-break-it year for himself.

“After this year, the steps he’s taken, really, the sky is the limit for him,” Bell said. “He’s kind of becoming the pitcher we knew he’d become. More than that, we’re happy for him to be getting to that point in his level of confidence more than anything.”

WAIVER CLAIM: The Reds claimed left-handed pitcher Josh D. Smith off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and designated catcher Juan Graterol for assignment.

Smith, 30, had a 6.39 ERA in 14 relief appearances with the Marlins and Cleveland Indians. It was his first year in the big leagues. He struck out 14 and walked 11 in 12 ⅔ innings while giving up 11 hits and nine runs.

He had more success against right-handed hitters, holding them to a .603 on-base plus slugging percentage in 33 plate appearances, than lefty batters (.886 OPS).

At Triple-A Columbus this year, Smith posted a 2.73 ERA in 41 relief outings with 74 strikeouts and 24 walks in 52 ⅔ innings. He held Triple-A hitters to a .170 batting average.

Graterol had four hits in 18 at-bats with the Reds this season, filling in when Tucker Barnhart, Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer were on the injured list simultaneously. Graterol hit .249 with two homers and 26 RBI in 58 games at Triple-A Louisville.