Ashcraft struck out 10 "B-Team" Padres in Wednesday night's spring training start over six innings. After the start he exuded about the progress he has made with his slider, a pitch he's using a new grip for, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Everything is working how we want," Ashcraft said. "The slider is the best it's ever been for me."
Between the reports of Ashcraft hitting 100 mph and now his new-and-improved slider, he's graduated to the level of last-round dart-throw intrigue. He obviously needs to face tougher competition, but he now has 25 strikeouts in 17.1 spring training innings.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Set to start Friday
Rotowire
Ashcraft (calf) is listed as Cincinnati's probable starter for Friday's spring game against the Guardians.
The 25-year-old was removed from his most recent start Sunday with calf cramps, but it appears the issue won't affect his next turn through the rotation. Ashcraft got his fastball up over 100 mph prior to his exit from that outing, though he'll need more than just velocity to take a step forward in 2023 after he posted a 4.89 ERA and 71:30 K:BB across 105 innings as a rookie last year.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Increased velocity
Rotowire
Before he left Sunday's spring training start with calf cramps, Ashcraft was reaching 100 mph on his fastball and getting more swings-and-misses, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Despite a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph last year, Ashcraft managed only a 15.3 percent strikeout rate and 8.8 percent swinging strike percentage. Ashcraft already threw hard, so added velocity alone won't be sufficient to guarantee better results this season. However, the reports of added swings-and-misses before his calf cramp were promising.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Should make next start
Rotowire
Manager David Bell said Monday he expects Ashcraft (calf) to be available to start the next time his turn comes up in the Reds' Cactus League rotation, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft exited his most recent start Sunday against the Dodgers with what the team labeled as calf cramps, and after further evaluation, his injury doesn't appear to be any more serious than that. Assuming Ashcraft is able to complete a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday without incident, he should be ready to pitch in a game as soon as Friday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Exits with calf cramps
Rotowire
Ashcraft was removed from Sunday's spring start against the Dodgers due to calf cramps, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
It's encouraging news for the 25-year-old, who exited Sunday's start during the third inning with an athletic trainer. Ashcraft should be able to make a quick return to the mound and will likely remain on track to begin the season as Cincinnati's No. 3 starter.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Pulled with apparent injury
Rotowire
Ashcraft was removed from Sunday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers with an apparent leg injury, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 25-year-old started off with two scoreless frames but faltered during the third inning before spiking a pitch in the dirt and grabbing at his leg. The specifics of the situation remain unclear, but any absence at this point would likely affect Ashcraft's availability for the Opening Day rotation, for which he's already been named the No. 3 starter.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Will open as No. 3 starter
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell announced Thursday that Ashcraft will begin the season as the team's No. 3 starter, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Hunter Greene was named the Opening Day starter for the Reds on Thursday afternoon, and now Bell adds that Nick Lodolo will pitch the second game of the regular season with Ashcraft following in the third. Ashcraft, 25, worked to a 4.89 ERA and 71:30 K:BB over his first 105 major-league innings (19 starts) in 2022. He's trying to add more swing-and-miss this spring.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Focus on slider
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed two runs over two innings on three hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter in his spring training debut against the A's on Wednesday, striking out two. A primary focus for Ashcraft was working on his slider, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft threw his slider just over 27% of the time during his rookie 2022 campaign and got better results than when using his cutter or sinker. "It's come a long way. I threw 10 out of 15 [sliders] over the plate for strikes. It's hard to complain," Ashcraft said. "We've still got a little bit to go with it. We're going to see what happens with it."
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Ashcraft will start Wednesday's Cactus League contest against the Athletics, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft dealt with an ankle injury early in spring camp, but the right-hander was able to throw a bullpen without issue on Friday, and the 25-year-old will be on the bump against the A's on Wednesday. In his rookie season, Ashcraft posted a 4.89 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 71:31 K:BB over 105 innings of work. He's expected to pitch in the middle of the Cincinnati rotation to open the 2023 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Throws live BP without issue
Rotowire
Ashcraft (ankle) threw a successful round of live batting practice Friday, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft made an early exit from his last round of live BP after taking a comebacker off his right ankle, but the 25-year-old hasn't skipped a beat with his spring training throwing progression. He'll soon begin appearing in Cactus League games as he readies himself for a prominent spot in Cincinnati's starting rotation.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: No limitations with ankle
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Ashcraft (ankle) won't have any setbacks to his spring throwing progression, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft took a line drive off his right ankle while throwing live batting practice Monday in Reds camp, but he was walking normally soon after and should be ready to hop back on a mound later this week. The 25-year-old right-hander figures to open the 2023 campaign as the No. 3 starter in Cincinnati.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Early exit deemed precautionary
Rotowire
Ashcraft said that he was removed early from his live batting practice session Monday for precautionary reasons after he was struck in the right ankle by a comebacker, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The right-hander noted that he's OK and is walking completely normal after getting hit by a line drive, which apparently didn't result in him experiencing anything more than minor bruising or soreness to his ankle. Ashcraft looks on track to remain on his usual throwing progression this spring as he looks to stake his claim to a spot in Cincinnati's Opening Day rotation.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Struck by comebacker Monday
Rotowire
Ashcraft had to cut his live batting practice short Monday after he was struck in the foot by a comebacker off the bat of TJ Friedl, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Facing hitters for the first time this spring, Ashcraft wasn't able to complete a full workout after taking a line drive to the foot. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Ashcraft didn't look to be in significant pain before leaving the mound, so he may have been pulled for precautionary reasons. If healthy, the hard-throwing right-hander should have an inside track to a spot in the Cincinnati rotation after posting a 4.89 ERA (4.20 FIP), 1.42 WHIP and 71:30 K:BB across 105 innings as a rookie.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Tagged with six runs
Rotowire
Ashcraft (5-5) allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings Friday, striking out one and taking a loss against the Cubs.
Ashcraft was charged with three runs in each of the second and third innings during Friday's brutal outing. It was his shortest start since June 30 when he coughed up seven runs in just 2.1 frames. Over his last four starts, Ashcraft has posted an unsightly 6.86 ERA, raising his season number to 4.52 across 18 starts. The 24-year-old righty is expected to face the Cubs at home next week to finish off his rookie campaign.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Allows four runs in loss
Rotowire
Ashcraft (5-4) took the loss Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits over four innings against the Brewers. He struck out two.
Ashcraft was able to keep the Brewers off the board for the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. After Rowdy Tellez reached on a one-out single, Hunter Renfroe crushed a hanging slider over the wall in left field to put the Reds down 2-1. The right-hander then proceeded to hit Luis Urias with a pitch two batters later before giving up back-to-back singles and allowing two more runs to cross the plate. Ashcraft looked a bit rusty in his return from the injured list and will seek better results in his next start, which should come next week against the Cubs.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Activated prior to start
Rotowire
Ashcraft (biceps) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list prior to Saturday's start against the Brewers.
Ashcraft was on the injured list for just over a month due to biceps soreness, but he recently completed a rehab assignment in which he allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 15 hits and a walk while striking out 11 in 5.2 innings over two appearances. He'll have the chance to make a few more starts for the Reds down the stretch as long as he can remain healthy.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Next rehab outing set
Rotowire
Ashcraft (biceps) allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk over three innings Thursday for Double-A Chattanooga, and he's scheduled to continue his rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Louisville, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 24-year-old threw 53 pitches in his first rehab start Thursday, and he apparently came out of the outing okay since his next start is already on the calendar. It was Ashcraft's first game action in nearly a month due to the biceps soreness, and he should continue building up his workload Monday.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ashcraft (biceps) was sent on a rehab assignment to Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday.
He has been sidelined for four weeks with biceps soreness, but he seems on track to rejoin the big-league rotation before the end of the season. Ashcraft had a 2.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 33.2 innings over his last five starts before landing on the IL. He'll likely toss around 45-to-50 pitches Wednesday before making another rehab start at Triple-A Louisville early next week.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Close to rehab assignment
Rotowire
Ashcraft (biceps) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft has been on the injured list since Aug. 23 due to biceps soreness, but he threw a bullpen session Tuesday and tossed live batting practice Friday. Assuming he feels good after facing hitters, the right-hander will likely join a minor-league affiliate next week and should be in the mix to return from the IL for the final few weeks of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Bullpen session on tap
Rotowire
Ashcraft (biceps) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The 24-year-old resumed a throwing program last week after he landed on the injured list with biceps soreness Aug. 23, and he's now progressed to mound work. Assuming all goes well Tuesday, Ashcraft is tentatively slated to throw live batting practice Friday.
