Dusty Baker visits Reds in San Diego

SAN DIEGO — As the Reds came out of the clubhouse and onto the Petco Park field before Tuesday's game against the Padres, there was a familiar face greeting them – former manager Dusty Baker.

Baker, who was in town with his wife, Melissa, and son, Darren, for a baseball tournament, stopped in to see the Reds for the first time in person since he was fired following the 2013 season.

Baker doled out smiles and hugs, as player after player also embraced him.

Baker said he'd watched the Reds and followed the team on TV, but it was the first time he'd seen many of the players since the loss to the Pirates in the wild card game.

"I raised half of them – but half the team's not here. In a short bit of time, they've had quite a bit of turnover," Baker said. "My son's have been out here, he came to San Francisco last year. He was really excited that we'd be in town for his tournament, he said, 'Dad, let's go to the stadium.' He wanted to see Brandon (Phillips) and Joey (Votto) and Jay (Bruce) and Billy (Hamilton) and (Todd) Frazier and all the guys. Some of them still stay in contact with them from time-to-time. These guys helped raise him. When he was with us, I wasn't worried about him being led down the wrong path, because I know these guys are good guys and they genuinely took care of my son."

Darren, now 16, is playing baseball. Baker himself is still involved in the game, too: He recently coached in a youth tournament in Long Island and also worked with Major League Baseball with its RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program.

Baker also has a wine business and has gotten involved in the solar energy business, as well.

"My wife thinks I'm working too hard," Baker said. "My son says, 'Don't work so hard, get some rest.' But that's all I know: work."

As for his departure from the Reds, that's not something he is interested in talking about — it's in the past. For Tuesday, he was just happy to see old friends.

"Some things don't change. We all get older, there's water under the bridge, but you just let bygones be bygones and live," Baker said. "That's what it's all about, living your life and being happy. I was pretty good to the game and the game was great to me."

HAMILTON’S PROGRESSION: Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton has continued to struggle in his second big-league season, hitting .221/.267/.281 this season. Despite his struggles, Reds manager Bryan Price said Hamilton will continue to play nearly every day.

“For me, I have to look at the whole package and what he provides from a defensive standpoint is significant for him to continue to be out there and get regular playing time,” Price said. “What he does on the bases, when he is on the bases, is big. And he’s 24, and I certainly anticipate him becoming a more effective offensive player. That being said, he hasn’t reached the bar we’ve set for him or he’s set for himself. Going into the offseason, there will certainly be a plan and approach, and I think gaining some strength and really being able to manipulate the bat a little bit differently is going to be an important part of his maturity as a hitter.”

Hamilton has talked about the possibility of giving up switch-hitting, but Price said the organization hasn’t discussed that at this point, as far as he knows.

MARSHALL PLAN: Left-hander Sean Marshall threw his third bullpen on Tuesday and will threw again in three days. For now, that will be the plan, Price said.

Marshall underwent shoulder surgery in May that was initially expected to end his season, if not his career. After the surgery, however, doctors said there was a chance he could pitch again this season.

“We have a template, and that template is every third day bullpen right now,” Price said, adding they aren’t looking beyond that at this time.

MINOR TRADE: Tuesday the Reds sent Triple-A starter Matt Buschmann to the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations. The right-hander was 2-5 with a 4.25 ERA for the Bats. The Reds signed him June 19, two days after he was released by the Rays.