Reds' Pitching Is Set For Cactus League Openers

 

 

 

Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds have a split-squad day on Saturday. Part of the team will play the Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale, Arizona. The rest of the squad will play against the Cleveland Guardians at home in Goodyear, Arizona.

The Reds will start Graham Ashcraft against the Brewers. In the first game the starter will pitch two innings at most and most likely one inning. If they are close to their pitch count, they often go to the bullpen to finish off their pitch goal for the day.

Following Ashcraft will be Luis Mey, Chase Petty, Lyon Richardson, Alex Young and Yosver Zulueta.

Hunter Greene will open against the Guardians. Ian Gibaut, Connor Phillips, Taylor Rogers, Bryan Shaw and Lenny Torres Jr. follow Greene.

Greene is ahead of other pitchers in camp. He moved to the Phoenix area and has been throwing at the Reds player development complex.

Ashcraft had a tough year after a broken foot and off season surgery in 2023. With a full year removed from the injury, it may help him regain his stuff.

“It was good for them to get a normal off season,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.

Other pitchers to watch:

In Goodyear, Ian Gibaut who was also injured most of last season is looking to regain his form from 2023.

Connor Phillips had a horrible year with Louisville but he was named Pitcher of the Week in the Arizona Fall League. 

“I told him you have a clean slate. Try to take advantage of it,” Francona said.

Taylor Rogers, a left handed reliever with postseason experience will show his wares on Saturday.

Bryan Shaw, a 37-year old veteran, who pitched in seven seasons under Francona, is competing for a bullpen role.

“He is the poster child for someone who wants the ball,” Francona said. “On the last day of the season in 2021, he came up to me and said, ‘I have to pitch today’. I had no intention of pitching him but he wanted to appear in exactly 81 games so I pitched him. He deserved it. I used to put up a list of who was available every day in Cleveland. I would write down his name and he would come along and draw a line through it.”

Lenny Torres Jr. was drafted in the first round by Cleveland in 2018 but at 24, still hasn’t pitched in the Big Leagues.

Following Ashcraft against the Brewers:

Luis Mey, who impressed everyone in the Arizona Fall League, will pitch after Ashcraft.

“He threw 102 mph in the Fall League. I saw probably the best inning of his life, nine pitches and made hitters look like they were trying to defend themselves,” Francona said.

Chase Petty, a 21-year old drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in 2021, had a solid year in Chattanooga and Louisville last year. He posted an 11-6 record and a 3.44 ERA.

Lyon Richardson was drafted by the Reds in the second round in 2018. The 25-year old made four emergency starts for the Reds in 2023 and appeared in one game last season. He had a 1-7 record with a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts at Louisville last season.

Alex Young returns to the Reds after being traded to the San Francisco Giants for Austin Slater, who didn’t last with the Reds. The left hander appeared in 63 games for David Bell in 2023 and pitched well with the Reds bullpen in shambles late that season. He played in 63 games. Young won four games and lost two with a 3.46 ERA that year. The Giants put him on waivers 10 days after the trade the New York Mets claimed him and he posted a 3.29 in 14 games. He finished off seven of them.

Yosver Zuleuta, a 27-year old from Cuba, pitched in 12 games for the Reds. He bounced between Cincinnati and Louisville. He was with the Reds when the bullpen needed a boost. He had an ERA of 4.96 with the Reds but was 4-2 in Louisville with a 3.83 ERA in 40 games.