 Birtsas entered his first Spring with the Reds competing for a long reliever/spot starter job.He was reassigned to the triple A Nashville Sounds toward the end of Spring training, but was up in the majors by the middle of May.With his record standing at 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA, he was optioned back to triple A at the end of August, but an injury to Rijo helped keep him in the majors through the rest of the season.