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Cincinnati Reds make roster cuts, including MCC alum Ben Jukich
CLEARWATER, Fla. (mlb.com and Cincinnati Enquirer) -- The Cincinnati Reds made 12 more cuts on Tuesday and have their spring training roster down to 44 players.
Pitching prospects Sam LeCure, Matt Maloney and Robert Manuel were optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Third-base prospect Juan Francisco was optioned to Double-A Carolina.
Non-roster invitees re-assigned to the Minor League camp were pitchers James Avery, Adam Pettyjohn, Ben Jukich (who played at McCook Community College) and Jordan Smith, infielder/outfielder Wes Bankston, first baseman Kevin Barker, infielder Luis Bolivar and catcher Chris Kroski.
The highest-rated prospect of the group was Francisco, who was ranked the eighth-best prospect in the organization by Baseball America.
The lefty power hitter batted .227 with three RBIs in 10 games.
Jukich pitched in four spring training games for the Reds. He went 2-0 with a 6.23 earned run average, allowing seven hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Despite the high ERA, Jukich picked up wins over a couple marquee teams. He defeated the New York Yankees on March 1 and the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies on March 9.