×

Reds’ addition Storen hopes to help bullpen

Reds Caravan visits MOV

Members of the Cincinnati Reds organization prepare to sign autographs for fans Saturday at the Grand Central Mall in Parkersburg. From left to right are Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley, former outfielder Eric Davis, general manager Dick Williams, pitcher Drew Storen and minor leaguer Chris Okey. Photo by Mike Morrison.

VIENNA — Despite a string of not-so-good seasons lately for the Cincinnati Reds, that didn’t deter the team’s fans from coming out Saturday morning at Grand Central Mall to welcome the Reds Caravan to the Mid-Ohio Valley for its annual preseason visit.

With only about two weeks until the pitchers and catchers report to kick off 2017 Major League Baseball spring training, a lot of the fans’ interest in how the Reds will fare this season hinges the pitching staff — and in particular the bullpen, which had its troubles galore last season.

To that end, the Reds — although sending their best starter in Dan Straily last year (14-8 with a 3.76 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 34 games) to Miami for a pair of up-and-coming pitching prospects in the Marlins’ minor-league system — signed right-handed free-agent reliever Drew Storen, 29, to a one-year, $3 million contract in a move to hopefully help solve some of their recent bullpen woes.

Cincinnati’s pen surrendered a major league record 103 homers last season and led the league in walks. Overall, the Reds allowed 258 homers, shattering the previous major league mark.

Meanwhile, Storen went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 57 appearances last season for the Toronto Blue Jays and then the Seattle Mariners, recording three saves in four chances.

Storen’s best MLB seasons so far were with the Washington Nationals. He went 2-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 11 saves in 2014, and followed it with a 2-2 mark, 3.44 ERA and 29 saves in 2015.

“It was exciting to sign with the Reds since I was a Reds fans growing up in Indianapolis, and still live there,” said Storen prior to the Reds Caravan appearance at the mall. “So it’s kind of cool I’ve come full circle, and it just presents me with a really good opportunity with a young bullpen. So hopefully, I can add some experience and help those guys out.”

For Storen, if he’s tabbed as the Reds’ closer, “I obviously have experience doing it, I like to do it and anyone down there (in the bullpen) should want to be the closer,” he said.

“Every team runs the pen differently, but no matter what, those (bullpen outs) are all important outs. So I just worry about getting people out.”

What about the Reds attracted Storen to sign with them? “Just the opportunity, but up there on the priority list of just getting to be myself and really pitch in a role that I’m comfortable with, and really help out the team — and for me, that was one of those big things,” he said.

Storen added, “when you see the way this team’s moving in a positive direction and I think anytime you have a good group of young guys with some veteran guys too, that’s usually a team to move (up in the standings) pretty quickly.”

If asked, Storen said he and his Reds teammates would “relay to the fans how excited we are and our high expectations about this season. It was a frustrating year I know for the fans last year, but you know there’s going to be some great things come this year.”

Storen also is still getting to know who his new Reds bullpen buddies are. “I’m not too familiar with what their stuff is, but I’ve heard good things,” he said. “And I’ve heard there’s some pretty electric arms down there, so I’m looking forward to seeing them in spring training.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today