The Reds replaced LHP Justin Wilson on the roster today with some local talent.
Wilson felt some pain in his left elbow on Sunday but thought the day off Monday would take care of it.
It didn't.
The Reds placed its only left hander in the bullpen with left handed pitcher Phillip Diehl.
Diehl grew up in Pleasant Ridge and pitched at Moeller High School before heading to pitch at Louisiana Tech and the University of Evansbille. The New York Yankees called his name in the 27th round of the 2016 draft. The Yankees traded Diehl to Colorado in March 2019 and he made his major league debut in June that season.
The former Crusader has worked in 16 games for the Rockies in 2019 and 2020. The Reds plucked him off the waiver wire in 2021 and Diehl spent the season at Triple A Louisville where he had a 2-3 record in 58 games with 2.47 ERA. He notched three saves.
The 27-year old pitched 5 1/3 innings with the Reds in Goodyear this spring but didn't make the opening day roster, a spot that went to the veteran Wilson.
As exciting as it is to earn a trip back to the big leagues, it is special to be on the roster of the hometown team.
"I was told in Columbus last night after the game. I was having dinner with some friends after the game when i got a strange group text," Diehl said. The text was from Pat Kelly the Louisville manager.
Diehl was told that he was called up. He decided to sleep in his own bed. He called his mother and told her he'd see her in an hour and a half. When he got home at 1;30 AM they ware asleep. The are coming to the game tonight along with friends, his fiance and her familty.
"I feel real well. I thought I had a great off season. I threw the ball well in spring. I didn't make the team but that's whatever. I'm here now," Diehl said. "Being called to the Reds is different, a little bit. I didn't get to play in the big leagues last year. They say its a lot harder to get back than to get in. A lot of hard work went into this. I'm excited to pitch in Great American Ball Park."
"When he was sent down out of camp, he wasn't accepting, obviously he accepted it but he feels like he's a big l eague pitcher," David Bell said. "The way he's been pitching last year in Triple A, this year in spring training, he's very confident in what he's doing. The only thing he could do was go to Triple A and show that. That's exactly what he did. A couple weeks into the season and he's getting the opportunity. This is a big day for him being from Cincinnati."
It is now up to Diehl to prove that he can stay.
Wilson's elbow will not require surgery but only a period of rest.
"I think he's pretty relieved about that," Bell said. "It may just be a couple weeks."
That leaves until May 1 for at least two pitchers on the roster to stick. Due to the short spring training, each team was allowed to carry two extra players. After the first of May teams are limited to 13 pitchers and the DL will be extended from 10 days to 15 days for pitchers and two way players.
The Reds currently have 15 pitchers. Two will have to be sent down and two if the team wants to carry five bench players instead of four, three will have to be sent packing.
Mike Moustakas is eligible to come off the Injured List on Thursday. He is working out on the field and Bell said he may just be activated to DH for a couple of days.
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