Bob Boone hasn't determined how much third baseman Brandon Larson will play while Aaron Boone sits out his expected three to four weeks with a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

        But the manager indicated he'd like to see Larson play well enough to merit at least semi-regular playing time, because that would return Juan Castro to his valuable utility role. Boone said Larson will start his first major-league game at third today against Arizona lefty Brian Anderson.

        “If (Larson) can do a decent job, it's a little more convenient having Juan sitting there where I can insert him,” Bob Boone said. “But we have to see how (Larson) swings.”

        Larson has swung better lately. He arrived in Cincinnati with mediocre Triple-A numbers (.248, two homers, 13 RBI) but hit .400 (10-for-25) in his last six games with Louisville.

        “I was trying to yank everything and be the big power prospect guy,” said Larson, the Reds' first-round selection in the 1997 draft. Citing help he received from hitting coach Brook Jacoby, Larson added: “I found out that all I had to do was put a decent swing on the ball instead of trying to crush everything and the ball will go just as far. Balance was my big problem, so I was working on that a lot.”

Spring training story: Larson's power intrigues Reds

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