SARASOTA, Fla. — The difference between Ken Griffey Jr.'s arrival Wednesday at Reds training camp and his grand entrance last year couldn't have been greater.

        Last year, 65 media outlets and 150 reporters were on hand to chronicle Griffey's first day as a Red, though the star center fielder had slipped into the clubhouse the day before to unpack his gear.

        This time, the only re porters present were three of the regular beat writers and a wire-service photographer.

        The contrast left Griffey feeling more relaxed than he was last spring, when the Feb.10 trade that sent him from Seattle to Cincinnati drew nationwide attention.

        He bantered with team mates, joked with shortstop Barry Larkin and feigned concern that his father, hitting coach Ken Griffey Sr., wasn't close at hand.

        “Nothing's changed. He's got all the money!” said Griffey Jr., who's entering the second season of a nine-year, $116.5 million contract. “He has to take me out to eat for Valentine's Day.”

        Though Griffey joked about going motorcycle riding today, he's eligible to join pitchers and catchers in their first workout. Because Griffey ended last season with an injured left hamstring, he received permission to begin workouts early, along with Larkin (left knee), third baseman Aaron Boone (left knee) and outfielder Michael Coleman (left wrist).

        He was examined by team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek, who said he could tell Griffey had worked hard at strengthening himself this winter.

        Griffey also got braces in the offseason, to correct an overbite. He'll wear them for another four months.

Larkin healthy, willing to lead off Graves loses arbitration case Griffey arrives quietly at camp Players on hand are fit Reds ballpark time capsule pitched

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