GOODYEAR, Ariz. – After bouncing between starter and reliever for the last two years at the Major League level, left-handed pitcher Cody Reed was recently told by the coaching staff that he will remain in the bullpen.

Reed said he was happy with whichever role. He just wants to fight for a roster spot. He struck out two batters in a scoreless inning against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night, which manager David Bell thought was his best inning of the spring.

“I think he responded to that (Saturday) night,” Bell said. “He came in and he looked like a reliever just the way he attacked the hitters and came in and was giving his best for one inning.”

Reed, acquired in the Johnny Cueto trade from the Kansas City Royals, had a 3.98 ERA last season. He finished the year in the rotation, making seven starts and 10 relief appearances. He hopes his final two months represented a breakthrough after struggling to stick in the Majors.

“I mean that was good having success after struggling for so long,” Reed said. “Maybe my calling was in the bullpen. Amir (Garrett) has excelled in that role. He’s always been a starter and now look at him now. He said it can be me and him in the bullpen. Whatever I can do to be on the team, that’s all I really care about.”

Known for his strong slider, Reed said he doesn’t plan to change his approach as a reliever. At the beginning of camp, it was expected that Reed would build up his innings, so the coaching staff could be flexible on using him as a starter or reliever.

In five appearances this spring, Reed has allowed seven runs and seven hits in six innings with seven strikeouts. Six runs and six hits are from one outing. One of the things that sticks with Reed is advice from pitching coach Derek Johnson, “Be who you are.”

“That’s exactly what I’m doing,” Reed said. “I’m not changing anything. I’m just going to go out there and do what I know I can do. I know when I’m at my best, I think I can get anyone out. That’s what I’m going to keep doing.”

Reed said he will keep his same pitching repertoire and he’s never been a guy who could turn into a max-effort type pitcher – “I get nervous for the hitter up there if I’m max effort,” he said. Reed was used as a starter at Triple-A Louisville for the last three years.

“I try not to do too much,” Reed said. “Just know what I can do. I know I can throw the ball 92, 93 mph. That’s good enough. I peeked (Saturday) and I saw 96 and I was like, ‘I still got it a little bit.’ I know it’s in there but just try to be more efficient with the pitch quality really.

“I think in years past, that got me in trouble trying to do too much. Now I’m kind of past that and trying to be more of a pitcher instead of a thrower.”

HERNANDEZ DEBUT: Reds reliever David Hernandez made his first appearance of the spring Sunday after dealing with a sore shoulder. It was a similar injury that forced him to open the 2018 season on the injured list.

Hernandez threw a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one batter on his curveball. He’s worked on developing a new break on his curveball throughout the spring.

“It felt really, really good,” Hernandez said. “Probably one of my favorite experiences as a first-time participant in a game at spring training. Just felt good overall. No issues warming up. Felt like I had good stuff out there. Just very pleased with how I felt. I just wanted to feel good today. That was the main goal.”

Hernandez, 33, felt soreness in his shoulder after his first live batting practice session, which delayed his debut in games. Fellow reliever Matt Bowman made his Cactus League debut in the eighth inning. Bowman had a strained right lat at the beginning of camp.

“Tomorrow I expect to obviously be sore, but hopefully it’s not to the extent of what I was feeling after my first live BP,” Hernandez said. “I feel good.”