With one week remaining until Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers, the Cincinnati Reds created a three-day “Summer Series” for their intrasquad scrimmages in camp.
Players were drafted into two teams – one managed by bench coach Freddie Benavides and the other by outfield coach Jeff Pickler – and it’ll be a best-of-three series this weekend. The idea was to ramp up the intensity with a pair of exhibition games and the regular season around the corner.
The prize for the winning team? They don’t have to show up to Monday’s practice.
“It'll be a lighter day for the losing team, as well, but half the team will be off unless they need to come in for any special reason, treatment or anything like that,” Reds manager David Bell said.