“It wasn’t an extra challenge,” said Hayes of last year’s lack of spring training invitation. “I got plenty of opportunities a couple years before. Then I got the opportunity to pitch in Triple A last year which was something good for me.”
His athletic gifts have been obvious since his prep days. The 6-foot-1 right-hander was a star athlete in McKenzie, Tenn. He was named Player of the Year by the Tennessee Coaches Association in 2006 after compiling an athletic resume that also included three football all-state selections, Mr. Football award in 2005, the second-most passing yards in state history and all-district selection in basketball.
That type of athlete rises quickly to the top, but Hayes has exercised patience in his professional baseball career. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted him in the 22nd round in 2006, but he went to Bethel College instead. Three years later,the Seattle Mariners called his name in the 22nd round, but he went to Vanderbilt to pitch alongside future major leaguers David Price, Mike Minor and Sonny Gray.
Hayes, the Reds’ 11th-round pick in 2010, was a Midwestern League All-Star in Dayton in 2011 with a 2-2 record and a 1.35 ERA in 51 games. He earned a promotion to Pensacola, where he was 2-3 with a 3.41 in 56 relief appearances.
Although he tied for the Southern League lead with 51 appearances, his ERA ballooned to 5.43 in 2013 and 4.04 in 2014.
Hayes went to the Domincan Winter League to pitch for the Estrellas de Orientales in San Pedro de Macoris.
“I had a couple opportunities to play winter ball and get better,” said Hayes, who played under Dean Treaner, manager of Pittsburgh’s Triple A team in Indianapolis.
The competition and environment gave Hayes a taste of what a Major League pennant race is all about.
“I faced some really good hitters,” he said. “Pitching in those environments, there is a lot of pressure there to win. The more you pitch to good hitters in those situations, the more opportunities you have to get better. I was able to keep working on my stuff and try to improve against hitters like Manny Ramirez, Rafael Furcal and Miguel Tejada. There are some really good players that have had some quality time in the big leagues.”
This is Hayes’ sixth full season in the Reds organization, and it looks like he has quietly made a good impression.
“Drew Hayes had a good year at Triple A last year,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “He is someone who could help us this year.”
Hayes pitched in 43 games for the Louisville Bats with a 4-4 record and a 2.95 ERA last season. He averaged more an one inning per appearance, which is attractive to the Reds.
“We can’t have seven guys in the bullpen that can only pitch one inning,” Price said.
Hayes has pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts so far this spring, which helped him survive the first round of roster cuts.
“He should be a guy that’s with us through camp competing for a spot,” Price said.
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