Cingrani Needs Another Pitch

When Johnny Cueto returns, the Reds need to decide what to do with rookie Tony Cingrani.

The left-handed 23-year old power pitcher is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in his five starts as Cueto's replacement in the starting rotation.  The Reds won four of the fives starts.

As well as he has pitched, the indication around the Reds is that Cingrani will be heading back to Louisville when Cueto returns.

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Cingrani, who dominated hitters with his 95-plus fastball at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Illinois, South Suburban College and Rice University, has an amazing total of 37 strikeouts in 28 innings.  Yet he will probably go back to Louisville to add to his pitching arsenal.

The Milwaukee Brewers were silent for three innings but started the fourth inning with two home runs and put runners on base after that.  Cingrani pitched out of trouble but his pitch count was high and Dusty Baker removed him from the game.

"He's throwing 95 percent fastballs," Baker said.. "You can get by the first time through but the second time is tough and the third time through is even tougher. They (hitters) know the action on the ball.  He's going to have to come up with a secondary pitch.  Especially a team like that (Milwaukee), because they can hit the fastball."

Cingrani is very close to being a successful major league pitcher.  He is on the fast track after being selected by the Reds out of Rice University with the third pick just two years ago 2011. He has had just one full year in the organization, splitting that between Bakersfield and Pensacola last year, then getting a September call-up.

The Evergreen, Illinois agent completed his first major league spring training camp in Goodyear, Arizona in March.

"He's on the way. I'm just glad he's had the success he's had so far," Baker said.  "The silver lining is that he has given us a chance to win.  We aren't here to try out.  We're here to win.  He's gotten extended time here. What if he'd have come up and gotten shelled?  Who would we have turned to then?  What if we'd lost four of his five starts?  We'd be seven out or worse. That's what he's done.  He's kept us in games."

Without saying so directly and knowing full well that things could change between now and Cueto's return, Cingrani will more than likely head to Louisville and learn to use and command the breaking ball and change more.

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