C. Trent Rosecrans

crosecrans@enquirer.com

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Reds start Cactus League games Tuesday, but neither Devin Mesoraco nor Zack Cozart will play in the next few games. Reds manager Bryan Price said he would ease the two starters coming off of major surgeries into games.

Since the start of camp, Price has said he would hold the two back. Mesoraco had hip surgery last year and Cozart had knee surgery. Both have participated in all spring drills to this point.

“I can’t give you exact dates but neither one of those guys will be in these early games against Cleveland, and maybe through the weekend,” Price said. “That really isn’t unexpected. It does give a kid like (Ramon) Cabrera, who I like a lot, a chance to get front-and-center time. He’s typically a guy that came in second last year. But he’s a guy now that until Devin comes back, will get a chance to start every other day.”

Ivan De Jesus Jr. will get plenty of time at shortstop in Cozart’s spot during camp, with Jose Peraza getting some time down the line.

“I’ll flip guys around. De Jesus, right now, is going to play some short early,” Price said. “Peraza is going to come in and play some second. He’ll go back and forth with Brandon at second, and then he’ll get over to short and get some outfield time as well.”

Billy Hamilton, who had shoulder surgery, won’t play in Tuesday’s Cactus League opener, but will be in the lineup on Wednesday.

“We ask him to do a lot in the outfield and he’s still not to the point where he’s like 100 percent, feels great every day,” Price said. “We’ve worked him hard. When he has a little bit of fatigue from throwing, maybe we’ll give him a day off. (Tuesday) will be a good work day for him, we’ll give him a day off from playing in the game and he will be ready to go on the 2nd.”

Cactus League rules stipulate teams must feature at least four “regulars” in the lineup. Most of the regulars play on an every-other-day basis for the first part of camp anyway, so Hamilton will be a part of the group that starts on Wednesday, Price said.

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games will be televised live by Fox Sports Ohio. Both games begin at 3 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.