GOODYEAR, Ariz. — If the Cincinnati Reds were looking at the happy-to-be-here factor, Jared Hughes was the perfect signing.
Hughes, the 32-year-old right-hander, is one cheery fellow. He says hello to everyone, converses with all his teammates and would make the ideal season-ticket salesman.
“I know the city well,” he said. “I know a lot of the players well. I’ve seen the direction the organization is going, and I really like it. I think we have the best lineup in baseball, and I think this year, when our pitching clicks, we’re going to be one of hardest teams to beat in baseball.