GOODYEAR, Arizona -- Reds manager Bryan Price on Wednesday singled out pitcher Wandy Peralta as being impressive in live batting practice.
“I don’t know if there is anyone who has impressed me more,” Price said, “as far as his bullpen quality, his pitch quality. The challenge for Wandy is being able to command the strike zone and command the count.”
Peralta is left-handed. Tony Cingrani is the only lefty projected to make the bullpen.
“Tony is good against lefties, but he’s good against righties too,” Price said. “On the days that we don’t have him, it would be a really nice thing to be able to match up a left-hander against some of the better left-handers in our division and in the National League.”
Peralta, 25, was 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA at Triple-A last year. He struggled in 10 outings with the Reds.
“It’s a situation that’s getting better for me," Peralta said. "I know what I have to do on the mound. I know I have to repeat everything and whatever I do on the mound. Right now, I feel really good.”
SAME OLD BRONSON: Price loved seeing Bronson Arroyo in his first live batting practice session.
“I was happy as heck to see Bronson out there throwing like he would typically,” Price said. “He looked exactly as he did in 2013, ’12, ’11 and ’10 in the four years that I was with him. Getting his work in, the delivery looked great, throwing strikes, throwing all fastballs, free and easy. That warmed my heart.”
