July 12: Supervisor David Bell instructed reporters on Friday that Ashcraft gained’t be again till September on the earliest (X link by way of Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The Reds may transfer him to the 60-day injured listing in some unspecified time in the future provided that timetable.
July 11: The Reds optioned righty Graham Ashcraft to Triple-A Louisville earlier within the week, however they’ve now rescinded that transaction and as a substitute positioned Ashcraft on the foremost league 15-day injured listing because of elbow discomfort. As Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer explains, Ashcraft reported elbow discomfort after being despatched down. The staff’s medical employees examined the right-hander, found the pressure, and beneficial a platelet-rich plasma injection. He’s been shut down from throwing solely for the subsequent two weeks because the staff waits to see how his elbow responds to the remedy.
It’s been a troublesome couple months for the 26-year-old Ashcraft, who entered the season locked right into a rotation spot however was despatched to Triple-A for a reset in early June on the heels of some notable struggles. He returned after three weeks when the Reds positioned Nick Lodolo on the IL because of a blister difficulty on his pitching hand.
Ashcraft began the season effectively, tossing seven begins (39 1/3 innings) of three.86 ERA ball with a below-average 18.6% strikeout price however a pointy 7% stroll price and powerful 51.2% grounder price. He struggled significantly over his subsequent six journeys to the mound, nonetheless, posting a 7.71 ERA in 28 frames with a diminished 14.9% strikeout price.
It’s not clear to what extent the elbow was bothering Ashcraft earlier within the season, however it’s price mentioning that the massive righty averaged 95.2 mph on his sinker over his first seven begins however has checked in at a mean of 94.1 mph since. He’s additionally misplaced a couple of half mile per hour off his cutter and 1.4 mph off his slider, on common.
The Reds aren’t offering a timetable proper now, as Ashcraft’s return (and any additional remedy) hinges on the end result from the PRP injection. For now, the membership hasn’t indicated {that a} main absence is a consideration or concern, however elbow strains on the whole are an ominous improvement for any pitcher. Ashcraft has crossed over the two-year threshold in MLB service this season, that means he’s below membership management for not less than 4 extra years — by means of the 2028 marketing campaign. Nonetheless, he’ll nonetheless have a number of possibility years remaining past the present marketing campaign, so it’s doable that future non-compulsory assignments to Triple-A may push that free-agent window again even additional.
With Ashcraft squarely out of the rotation image in the meanwhile, righty Carson Spiers will get an prolonged look as he goals to safe a beginning job alongside Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Frankie Montas and Andrew Abbott. The 26-year-old Spiers carries a 3.64 ERA, 17.9% strikeout price and 5% stroll price by means of 42 innings — 5 aid appearances and 4 begins.
