The Reds introduced they’ve acquired minor league pitcher Jake Wong from the Giants. The deal completes a swap the groups orchestrated within the hours after the Rule 5 draft, when Cincinnati despatched outfielder Blake Sabol to San Francisco.
Wong was a third-round choose of San Francisco out of Grand Canyon in 2018. His development up the minor league ladder was delayed after the 2019 season, because the canceled minor league season worn out his 2020. The Arizona native spent the next 12 months on the minor league injured record, returning in 2022. He performed this 12 months at Excessive-A Eugene, beginning 17 of 25 appearances. In 97 2/3 innings, the righty pitched to a 4.52 ERA with a strong 25.3% strikeout price and a barely elevated 10.3% stroll proportion.
Now 26 years previous, Wong has nonetheless but to achieve the excessive minors. On condition that lack of higher stage expertise, it’s not shocking he was left unprotected for and went unselected on this month’s Rule 5 draft. The Reds appreciated him sufficient to take a shot on him now that they needn’t dedicate him an lively or 40-man roster spot. He’ll presumably begin subsequent 12 months in Double-A or Triple-A and add some rotation depth to the group.
Sabol has a significantly better probability of breaking camp within the huge leagues. Cincinnati nabbed him out of the Pirates group with the fourth choose within the Rule 5 draft. They presumably had labored out an understanding with the Giants — who didn’t choose till sixteenth — that they’d flip him to San Francisco earlier than making the choose, for the reason that picks themselves can’t be traded. San Francisco must carry Sabol on the MLB roster or injured record all season or place him on waivers and, if he goes unclaimed, provide him again to Pittsburgh with out requiring a 40-man spot.
