SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds don't have a true backup to first baseman Sean Casey or third baseman Aaron Boone, or a power-hitting left-handed hitter on the bench.

        They could fill all three needs with one guy: Kevin Witt.

        Witt, a 26-year-old minor- league free agent, also can play left or right field. He's banking on his versatility to help him win a job.

        “I basically signed here because they were going to give me a good opportunity,” Witt said. “I can play all the corners. I think that flexibility will help me.”

        Witt, at 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, looks like a power hitter. But he moves well in the field. He made a sparkling play at third base in each of the last two games. He also drove in one of the Reds' runs in their 9-7 win over Boston on Friday.

        Witt is returning after pulling a quadriceps muscle in the intrasquad game. Saturday's 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins was just the second game he has started this spring.

        “I thought it was going to be a lot worse,” he said. “It's probably 85, 90 percent. It doesn't bother me in the field. It only hurts when I really go at full speed.”

        Witt was a first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1994. He made it to the big leagues with the Blue Jays briefly in 1998 and '99. The Blue Jays released him after the 2000 season.

        He signed with the San Diego Padres before last season. He played 14 games with the Padres but spent most of the year in Triple-A. Witt has put up big numbers in the minors in each of the last three years. He hit .289 with 27 home runs and 87 RBI for Portland last year.

        The Padres wanted to re-sign Witt, but he thought he'd get a better opportunity with the Reds.

        “We're going to give him a good look,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We're happy with what we've seen. I knew he could play first. We wanted to see him at third. We're looking for protection for Aaron (Boone) over there.”

        Wilton Guerrero is the other option at third, but the Reds wouldn't go with him for long, because he lacks power.

        Last year, the Reds moved Dmitri Young to third to fill in when Aaron Boone was on the disabled list.

        Even if Witt doesn't make the team, he'd likely be called up if Boone was hurt.

        “We're seeing we have some pretty good backups,” Bob Boone said. “If we have to call someone up, we know we've got some help down (in the minors).”

        E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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