C. Trent Rosecrans

crosecrans@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Donald Lutz hadn’t thrown a ball in a competitive game since undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, so of course the ball found him early in Saturday’s “B” Game against the White Sox.

Lutz, 27, started the “B” game at the Reds’ Spring Training Complex in Goodyear in left field. Chicago’s first hitter of the game hit a triple to left-center, and Lutz got to the ball first and had to throw it in.

“I was really excited,” Lutz said with a smile after the Reds’ 4-3 victory in five innings in that game. “I let it go and said, ‘nice.’ There’s always doubt, but it was all good.”

Later in that inning, he caught a fly ball and threw out a runner at second for a double play, ending the first.

Lutz also singled and walked in his two at-bats.

Doc: Expectations vague for Bryan Price with 2016 Reds

After suffering his injury in the first month of last season, Lutz had the elbow surgery to his left (throwing) arm and missed the rest of the year.

“I made a throw from left — they say you usually hear a pop, but I didn’t,” Lutz said. “It was a couple of minutes after, I realized it felt weird. Then I started trying to warm up again and I knew that was it.”

The Reds released him in June, needing his spot on the 40-man roster for Ivan De Jesus Jr. He then re-signed with the team on a minor-league deal in January.

“I like the organization and they’ve always treated me well,” Lutz said.

Lutz played (as a designated hitter) in the Australian Baseball League this winter, hitting .272/.348/.524 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 27 games for the Brisbane Bandits. He homered in the second and deciding game of the ABL Championship Series and was named the series MVP.

With 62 big-league games under his belt, Lutz is hoping to get back to the majors and felt that the Reds were his best opportunity, not only because he’s well known in the organization, but also because there’s plenty of opportunity in the organization.

“It’s pretty exciting, there’s definitely some fresh energy going on,” Lutz said. “I think everyone’s pretty excited. I just work and do my thing. Hopefully, I get another shot.”

​