In the months leading up to the 2022 MLB season, Jim Day found himself in an unusual position. The longtime dugout reporter on Reds broadcasts, Day usually spends the early weeks of spring training familiarizing himself with the major-league roster he’ll be covering that season. But due to the lockout that kept all players on active rosters away from spring training facilities until a new CBA was finalized, there were no big leaguers around to talk to.
Instead, a select group of non-roster Reds minor leaguers had reported to Arizona in February to begin preparing for a season with an undetermined start date.