SARASOTA, Fla. — If a head start helps, Austin Kearns is the early leader in the race for the right-field position. Kearns arrived at the Reds spring training complex more than a week early.

        Camp officially opens today when pitchers and catchers have to report. Position players such as Kearns don't have to report until Thursday.

        “I think everyone gets anxious this time of year,” Kearns said. “I got tired of sitting around at home. I wanted to get out of the cold.”

        Kearns did just that. He had worked up a major sweat before noon Friday with a session in the hitting cage.

        Kearns is third on the depth chart in right field, behind Juan Encarnacion and Ruben Mateo, because they have major-league experience.

        The plan is to start Kearns at Triple-A Louisville. But he could win the right-field job with a big spring.

        “I'm not expecting anything,” he said. “They've told me I've got a shot at the right-field job. That's really the only position thatthere's competition for.”

        Kearns, 21, was spectacular in the Arizona Fall League. He led the AFL, which draws baseball's top prospects, in on-base percentage (.460) and was second in hitting (.370). In a Baseball America poll, his throwing arm was rated tops in the AFL.

        The stint in Arizona proved that the torn ligament in Kearns' right thumb was healed.

        “If he's ready, we won't hold him back,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.

        MEETING DAY:

        The Reds front office staff and coaches met for two hours Friday morning. Then the coaching staff met separately for two hours, as did the front office staff.

        LONG HAUL:

        Chris Reitsma gets the award for driving the farthest to spring training. Reitsma and a friend drove from Calgary. That's 50 hours of driving time.
       “We broke it up over six days,” Reitsma said.

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