Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Santillan (back) may not be ready to pitch by the start of the regular season, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Santillan is making steady progress in his recovery from the lower-back strain that he suffered last summer, but he hasn't quite returned to full strength yet. The 25-year-old right-hander projects to fill a middle-relief or setup role for Cincinnati whenever he's fit enough to do so.