Calvin Pickering is the newest Red. He also might be the biggest — ever. Pickering is listed at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds.

        “The only one I remember built like him was Steve Bilko,” said equipment man Bernie Stowe, who has been with the Reds since 1947. “But I'd say (Pickering's) the biggest.”

        Bilko, a first baseman, played one season for the Reds (1958).

        The Reds acquired Pickering from Baltimore for future considerations on Thursday. They called him up Saturday.

        The Reds had to go to Koch's Sporting Goods to get a pair of softball pants for Pickering. They didn't have any baseball pants big enough for him.

        Pickering made, well, a big impression.

        “He looks like he should be next door (with the Bengals),” said Reds radio broadcaster Joe Nuxhall.

        “He's here,' Reds manager Bob Boone said. “You can't miss him.”

        Pickering has actually downsized after having surgery on his left quadriceps in the offseason.

        “I couldn't work out,” he said. “I got up to 307.”

        Pickering, a 24-year-old native of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, played briefly with the Orioles in 1998 and '99. He knew that wasn't going to happen this year.

        “They already gave me my free agent papers,” he said.

        Even after the trade, Pickering didn't think he'd end up in the bigs. He thought the Reds were simply bolstering Triple-A Louisville for the playoffs.

        “When they told me I was going up, I said, "For real?,'” he said.

        Pickering's best year was '98. He hit .309 with 31 homers and 114 RBI at Double-A Bowie.

        SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Surprised to hear the Reds called up Chris Piersoll?

        Piersoll wasn't. He was stunned.

        “Pretty much,” he said. “Especially Aug.31. I thought maybe, if I got lucky, they'd give me a shot Sept. 1.”

        But Piersoll, a 23-year-old right-hander, got the call Friday. He flew from Chattanooga to Cincinnati. He arrived at Cinergy at about 6:30 p.m.

        Less than three hours later, he was on the mound making his major-league debut in the Reds' 11-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

        “I was a little nervous,” Piersoll said. “You always are when you cross the lines and see all those people.”

        Piersoll gave up a triple in an inning of work.

        “We'll see more of him,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “I thought he looked pretty good.”

        The Reds got Piersoll from the Chicago Cubs in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. He was 16-6 with 12 saves and a 2.92 ERA in four minor-league seasons in the Cubs organization.

        As Chattanooga's closer, Piersoll was 1-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 19 saves. His most impressive stat: 78 strikeouts and 30 walks in 56 innings.

        RIEDLING RELIEVED: John Riedling isn't looking forward to surgery Tuesday, but he is relieved to be having it.

        “If I didn't, I would be wondering if it was going to be OK,” he said.

        Riedling, the 25-year-old right-hander, has battled the problem since May. The procedure will be similar to the one performed on Danny Graves before the 1998 season.

        “I've talked to Danny a lot,” Riedling said. “He said I should probably get it taken care of.”

        Riedling should be ready for the start of spring training.

        UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the three-game series against the Pirates with a 12:35 p.m. game today.

Bowden: Boone is 'our manager' Griffey + Dunn = 100 homers? Process of elimination nearly over Pirates 7, Reds 0 Fan's-eye view of the Reds Pickering (6-5, 290) makes big impression Pirates pitcher ends long wait Reds box, runs

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