BY SCOTT MACGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Nieves has surgery Outfielder Melvin Nieves, acquired from Detroit in a November trade, underwent surgery Wednesday in Cincinnati to repair a hernia. He'll be out 4-to-8 weeks.

General Manager Jim Bowden and Assistant General Manager Doc Rodgers attended the showcase for 16-year old Dominican free agent pitcher Ricardo Aramboles, who wowed scouts with his arm strength and speed Wednesday in Tampa, Fla.

''He has tremendous arm action, throws in the 91-93 mph range, has a good changeup and an inconsistent breaking ball that can be worked on,'' Bowden said. ''If he went through the June draft, he'd be a late first-round pick. We definitely have interest.

''It's going to come down to a question of cost. We'd love to stockpile these kind of arms. This is what pitchers like Jose Rijo looked like at this age.''

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