Reds notes: What's next for Sean Marshall?

MILWAUKEE — Sean Marshall hasn’t given up on pitching again in 2015, nor has he crossed 2016 off his list.

Marshall, who thought he could be having a career-ending shoulder surgery earlier this season, is still hoping to pitch in 2015, but hasn’t faced live batters yet.

“I think there’s still some hope, I think,” Marshall said on Sunday. “We’ve got great coaches here and great trainers and they’re pushing me to get back to a competitive level.”

Marshall, 33, will be a free agent at the end of the season and still wants to play.

“I want to keep playing, I’m not ready to hang ‘em up yet,” he said. “I still feel great.”

When Marshall does return, he could look a little different. He said he’s been toying with a new arm angle, dropping down “four or six” inches.

“I’m just trying to get creative at this point,” Marshall said. “It’s not the season I’m looking for, but I feel like I can come back and be an effective short guy, one-inning guy, lefty-lefty guy, sink to some righties. We’ll see. I’m very encouraged by the other day.”

Marshall’s twin brother, Brian, threw from a similar arm angle, he said. The two were teammates in college at Virginia Commonwealth University. Brian Marshall, also left-handed, was drafted by the Red Sox and played in the minors.

MEET ME: Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton is expected to rejoin the team in St. Louis, Price said on Sunday. Hamilton returned to Cincinnati on Friday to have an MRI on his shoulder.

Saturday, Price said he doesn’t expect Hamilton to play in the field in the next couple of days, but did hope to use him as a pinch-runner.

Price also said Brayan Pena would likely return to catching during the three-game series in St. Louis. Pena suffered a strained hamstring on Sept. 9. Pena returned to pinch-hitting duties on Friday.

ROTATION SET: Right-hander Keyvius Sampson returned to the Reds on Sunday after leaving for several days to deal with a family situation.

Sampson will return to the Reds’ rotation, starting Tuesday night’s game in St. Louis.

Left-hander John Lamb is starting Monday, followed by Sampson, Brandon Finnegan, Josh Smith and Anthony DeSclafani.

FRAZIER’S 35: Todd Frazier had no clue he had hit his 35th home run of the season on Saturday night. In fact, after he hit the ball to left field, he slammed down his bat in disgust, thinking he’d just flied out.

Afterward he was upset at himself for reacting that way, as was his wife.

“My wife yells at me all the time for acting up, I just need to run it out and hope for the best,” Frazier said. “I was excited when it did go out, as well. It was a surprise, but excited.”

SMITH’S TRIPLE: Unlike Frazier, Reds starter Josh Smith thought he hit a home run in Saturday’s 9-7 Reds victory, but ended up with a triple.

“Man, at first I thought I had a homer — I hit that ball on the screws,” Smith said. “Then I saw (Logan Schafer) jump and I was rounding first and I was like, ‘no way did he catch that.’ Then I saw the ball rolling and thought I better hustle and I looked over at third and (Jim) Riggleman was waving and I was just hoping I didn’t have to slide into third. I hit that ball as well as I can hit it.”

It was Smith’s second career hit in five plate appearances, as he also singled in his first career plate appearance.

The triple was also the third by a Reds pitcher this year. Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias have also tripled for the Reds this season.