The Spring Training season has started, and Shin-Soo Choo is gaining confidence playing center field for the Cincinnati Reds.

“But everyday I feel better with practice,” he said. “There’s still work to do. But I feel more confident.”

Granted, the former right fielder has only played a little bit, and exhibition baseball is nothing like when the games count, but it’s good that Choo has confidence in his ability to make the transition.

As expected, Reds manager Dusty Baker has the same confidence in his player.

“This guy is an athlete,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He has a lot of pride. He works hard. He’ll be fine. We just have to preserve his legs.”

Choo has done well at the plate, too, showing some on-base skills that were completely absent last season from the lead-off spot. If this switch to center field works, this could be a very good season.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (0-1)	5	0	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	10	13	0
Indians (1-0)	3	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	3	11	14	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds started off the 2013 Spring Training season with a game against the Cleveland Indians. Although they both share Goodyear Ball Park, the Reds played the visitors this time.

The game was an offensive show, with a combined 21 runs and 27 hits, which isn’t uncommon early in the Spring. For the Reds, who started their expected opening day lineup, things started well.

Newly acquired lead-off hitter Shin-Soo Choo began things with a walk. I hope to see a lot of getting on base from him. The Reds went on to score 5 runs that inning. Joey Votto went 2-3, driving in and scoring one. Miguel Olivo and Devin Mesoraco both hit home runs.

The pitching wasn’t nearly as sharp, though. Tony Cingrani started and struggled. He pitched one inning and allowed 3 runs. With the exception of Clay Hensley, who allowed no runs in his 2 1/3 innings, the relievers weren’t any better.

The game ended on a walk-off, three-run double given up by Carlos Contreras.

The Reds and the Indians play again today at 3:05 p.m. The Reds will start Alfredo Simon, while the Indians will send out Brett Myers.

The Cincinnati Reds play their first exhibition game of the 2013 Spring Training season today at 3:05pm when they face the Cleveland Indians. The starter? Tony Cingrani.

Cingrani, the 23-year-old left-hander, was the Reds’ best pitcher in the minors last year. He went 10-4 with a 1.73 ERA at Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola.

Because of the World Baseball Classic, Spring Training is one week longer this year. That means more games, and instead of having the projected starters pitch from the very beginning–and potentially be tired come the start of the season–the Reds are planning on waiting a while. For example, expected opening day starter Johnny Cueto won’t make an appearance until the 6th game.

“What we’d like to do as much as possible is not to have these guys have an increase in their workload because of the extra week,” pitching coach Bryan Price said. “Typically most of our starting pitchers are starting a little bit later in spring training.

I have mixed feelings about the World Baseball Classic. I like the idea of getting more countries involved in playing baseball. It’s especially important now that baseball is no longer in the Olympics. However, the timing feels a little off. Still, I can’t be too upset if it means baseball starts a little earlier this year.

It took a while, but Joey Votto has finally decided to be on the roster for Canada’s World Baseball Classic team.

That does not mean he will definitely play.

“As far as playing, I’m going to have to wait until the day before to decide,” Votto said.

Good. He better stay healthy and uninjured, otherwise there will be serious repercussions for America’s hat.

As for the other player considering playing in the World Baseball Classic, Johnny Cueto, he will not be joining the Dominican team. The Reds exercised their right to prevent him from playing since he finished the season on the disabled list.