Tampa's Ty Griffin, frustrated in three seasons in the Chicago Cubs' minor-league system, got a fresh start Wednesday when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. Griffin, the ninth overall pick of the 1988 free-agent draft, was swapped for outfielder Scott Bryant, the Reds' first-round pick (20th overall) in the 1989 draft. "I'm real happy," Griffin said Wednesday night from his Tampa home. "It didn't even sink in until late today. I'm looking forward to going over to the Reds' camp." Griffin, a King High product, was the starting second baseman on the 1988 U.S. Pan Am and Olympic teams. But he struggled in professional baseball as the Cubs moved him from second base to third base to the outfield and back to the infield. They also shuttled him between minor-league teams. The Reds plan to make him their everyday starter at second base for the their Class AA team in Chattanooga, Tenn. And they expect to get him back on track to the major leagues, said Jim Bowden, the Reds' director of player development. "We're very excited to be able to get a middle infielder with the God-given talent Ty Griffin has," Bowden said Wednesday. "One of the weaknesses in our farm system is a second baseman ready for the major leagues. We feel Ty has the ability to be there some day. We think our people can make some adjustments with Ty, and we're excited about it." Griffin, 24, split last season between Class AA Charlotte and Class A Winston-Salem, batting .221 with three home runs and 37 RBI. Bryant, a former winner of the Dick Howser Award as the nation's top collegian, hit .304 in 91 games at Chattanooga with eight homers and 43 RBI. Bowden said both players should benefit from the trade. "I talked to (Cubs official) Syd Thrift about that," Bowden said. "We think it's in the best interests of both players to change situations."