With his recent move to the bullpen, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft notes he's eyeing the team's closer role. "At the end of the day, if I'm in the bullpen, that's where I want to be," said Ashcraft. The 27-year-old had been considered one of the Reds' Big Three pitching prospects over recent years, though it hasn't really panned out for him in the rotation. A recent move to the bullpen could be a boon for the former sixth-round pick, and he pitched well last Thursday in that role, allowing no hits, a walk, and striking out two. Ashcraft may not begin the season pitching late in games, particularly with teammates Taylor Rogers, Emilio Pagan, and Scott Barlow offering potential ninth-inning options for manager Terry Francona. Still, if he can continue to pitch well when called upon, he may find his way there later.
Graham Ashcraft Will Start Campaign In Relief Role
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft will open the 2025 campaign in the bullpen. Ashcraft was being stretched out as a starter during camp but fell short of making the opening-day rotation. Last season, Ashcraft made all of his appearances in the rotation and logged 77 1/3 innings with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He tallied just 57 punchouts and held a modest 7.7 percent walk rate. In addition, Ashcraft generated a high 5.18 xERA with a .278 xBA, which placed him in the seventh and sixth percentile, respectively. However, he did generate an elite 49.2 percent ground-ball rate, which was well above the average mark. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to likely operate as a long-relief option, limiting his fantasy upside.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) was seen throwing a live batting practice session at spring training on Thursday. A right-elbow strain prevented Ashcraft from pitching in the second half of the 2024 season for the Reds, but he appears to be recovered from that injury and a full-go in camp. The 27-year-old is going to have to pitch much better than he has the last three seasons in Cincinnati if he wants to earn a rotation spot on Opening Day, especially after the Reds acquired Brady Singer from the Royals this offseason. Ashcraft started the year with a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in his first 12 starts, so the Reds sent him to the minors. He's produced an unattractive 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with a well below-average 16.6% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate in his three seasons in Cincy with no evidence of a turnaround coming.
Graham Ashcraft Could Be Deployed Out Of The Bullpen
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Cincinnati Reds may opt to deploy right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft out of the bullpen. Rosecrans noted that the team has always viewed Ashcraft as a reliever since he was drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft. However, throughout his three-year MLB career, the right-hander has only seen opportunities in the starting rotation. If Ashcraft struggles during spring training and is viewed as the No. 6 option in the rotation, the team could then transition him to a relief role. The 26-year-old had the worst season of his career last summer, posting a 5.24 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. In 2023, the Alabama - Birmingham product posted a 4.76 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Cincinnati rotation during spring training as if they are all healthy, Ashcraft would likely shift to the bullpen.
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) will throw off the mound on Sept. 17 and also has a live batting practice session scheduled for early October. Ashcraft resumed throwing in late August but is not going to return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the 2024 regular season after missing more than two months with a strained right elbow. The 26-year-old will have plenty of time to recover during the offseason, though, and should be fully ready for the start of spring training next February. The hard-throwing right-hander wasn't really impressing anyone this year before his elbow injury, going 5-5 with a 5.24 ERA (4.84 FIP), a 1.50 WHIP and a 57:27 K:BB in 77 1/3 innings over his 15 starts. For how hard Ashcraft throws, it remains disappointing that he has a 16.6% strikeout rate in his three major-league seasons.
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday that they transferred right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Ashcraft now will not be eligible to return to the Reds until September, but there's a good chance that he won't make it back at all this year due to a strained right elbow. The 26-year-old should have been dropped in fantasy leagues a while ago. Before going down with an elbow injury, Ashcraft went 5-5 with a career-worst 5.24 ERA (4.80 FIP) and 1.50 WHIP with only 57 strikeouts and 27 walks in 77 1/3 innings over 15 starts in his third year in Cincinnati. Despite throwing his high-velocity offerings, Ashcraft has only been able to generate a 16.6% strikeout rate in his three years in the big leagues, leaving a lot to be desired fantasy-wise.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft (elbow) may potentially miss the rest of the 2024 season. According to Reds manager David Bell, Ashcraft could return at some point in September if all goes well. Ashcraft had been going back and forth between the majors and the minors after having a very spotty 2024 season, posting a 5.24 ERA in 15 starts. The 26-year-old may have been trying to pitch through his elbow discomfort as he didn't mention his injury until being optioned earlier this week. If Ashcraft is able to return in September, he likely will not provide much fantasy value. Fantasy managers may now want to instead turn to Carson Spiers, who is now 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA after picking up the win on Friday against the Miami Marlins. With five starts in a row now, Spiers will continue to take the bump for the Reds and would make a fine pickup for fantasy managers looking for starting pitcher help.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. The 26-year-old was optioned back to Triple-A on Monday. It sounds like Ashcraft was attempting to pitch through the issue on the big league club. However, Ashcraft alerted the minor league club once he got there about his elbow soreness. The right-hander will be shut down from throwing for the next two weeks. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him.
With the Cincinnati Reds placing left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) on the injured list with a blister on his left finger, Graham Ashcraft is positioned for a call-up later this week to fill Lodolo's spot in the rotation. Ashcraft was sent down to Triple-A Louisville earlier this month but has looked impressive in his two starts. He is (4-3) with a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 62 1/3 innings with the Reds, striking out 49 and walking 21. Opponents are batting .277/.345/.435 against Ashcraft, who could make his return on Friday when the Reds visit the St. Louis Cardinals. Despite the promising outings in the minors, fantasy managers outside of deep-league formats should avoid Ashcraft until he shows improvement on the big-league level.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will promote pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft from Double-A Altoona to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 2018, second-round pick has pitched well for Altoona this season and has been on a roll lately with a 1.89 ERA over his last six starts. On the season, Ashcraft is 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 11 games (10 starts). The former second-round pick in 2018 has certainly earned his promotion to Indianapolis. Ashcraft is on the Pirates 40-man roster and that gives him an increased chance of making it to the big-leagues at some point in 2024. For now, Ashcraft is only a name for dynasty managers to monitor as he takes the next step in his career.
Graham Ashcraft
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Reds
