Cincinnati Reds Place Jon Moscot on DL, Option Brennan Boesch to AAA

The flurry of roster moves continued for the Cincinnati Reds today in the wake of Jon Moscot‘s injury during the team’s 6-0 loss to the Tigers on Monday. Moscot, who suffered a dislocated left shoulder, was placed on the 15-day disabled list, Brennan Boesch was optioned to Triple-A Louisville, and pitchers Carlos Contreras and Donovan Hand were promoted from Triple-A.

(Really gonna miss that Lou Boesch guy.)

More from Blog Red Machine

• Reds: 3 players who may lose their roster spot when Jesse Winker returns
• Reds: Joe Boyle has an absurd strikeout-rate after punching out 10 batters
• Reds vs. Pirates: Pitching preview, prediction, and more
• Reds appropriately designate reliever Brad Brach for assignment
• Reds: 3 reasons why Jonathan India will win NL Rookie of the Year

To make room for Hand on the 40-man roster, Zack Cozart was transferred to the 60-day DL.

In his three starts this season, Moscot is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with six strikeouts and five walks in 11.2 innings. Bryan Price said after last night’s game that Moscot would be out for “a while.”  Fortunately, the injury was not to his throwing shoulder, so I’d guess he’ll be back much sooner than he would be if he dislocated his right shoulder.

Moscot’s rotation replacement hasn’t been announced yet, but the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay says three players are in contention to take his spot. Fay reported that Robert Stephenson was not one of those players, so I’d guess the three are David Holmberg, Dylan Axelrod, and Josh Smith. Since Holmberg is on the 40-man roster and his spot in Louisville’s rotation will fall on the same day of Moscot’s in Cincinnati, he seems like the logical choice to get the call-up.

Also departing the Reds’ active roster for now is Boesch, who struggled in limited playing time this season. In only 59 plate appearances, he hit .125/.169/.143 with one RBI and 21 strikeouts.

More from Reds News

• Reds: 3 players who may lose their roster spot when Jesse Winker returns
• Reds vs. Pirates: Pitching preview, prediction, and more
• Reds appropriately designate reliever Brad Brach for assignment
• Reds: 3 reasons why Jonathan India will win NL Rookie of the Year
• Reds: Despite six straight series defeats, Cincinnati is still contending

Contreras has appeared in three games with the Reds this season, allowing a run and a hit with three strikeouts and two walks in 3.1 innings. The 22-year-old started out strong with Triple-A Louisville, but has really struggled lately. Since the beginning of May, his ERA is 7.36 and his WHIP is 2.27. Walks have been his biggest issue, as he’s walked 10 in 6.1 June innings and 17 in 19.1 overall innings. Given his current issues, I can’t see him pitching in any close games with the Reds. Then again, I would’ve said the same thing about Kevin Gregg.

Hand has served in both a starting and relief role this season for Louisville. Overall, the 29-year-old has a 1-3 record with a 4.50 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 44 innings. His strikeout total (26) isn’t particularly high, but he won’t walk many batters either (8). The right-hander has previous big league experience with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013, when he posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 31 appearances (7 starts) over 68.1 innings.

Next: Reds shut out by Tigers, 6-0