Cincinnati Reds 2015 Grades: Tony Cingrani

Tony Cingrani‘s role with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015 wouldn’t be in question for long, as the Reds announced early in spring training that Cingrani would be taken out of the starting rotation after a poor 2014 season that came to an abrupt end after playing only 13 games, 11 of which as a starter. In June of 2014, Cingrani pitched his last game of the year with the Reds, and then spent much of the year on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis and did not play any minor league games after leaving the Reds.

But Cingrani returned to the Reds in 2015 for spring training where it was announced he would be moved from the starting rotation and into the bullpen. Cingrani was publicly unhappy about the move, but manager Bryan Price’s mind was already made up; Cingrani would be moved to the pen and Raisel Iglesias would be in the starting rotation. And the move was probably for the best, as Cingrani finished 2014 with a 2-8 record, a 4.55 ERA, 1.532 WHIP, and allowed 12 home runs in 13 games; not ideal starter stuff.

In the beginning of the 2015 season, Cingrani made only a few appearances, pitching in six games for 7 1/3 innings in the month of April. Cingrani pitched well in that month, posting a 2.54 ERA, and gave up no home runs, and continued to pitch well as a reliever in May, pitching in 13 innings, and keeping his ERA at a low 2.66 going into June. But Cingrani began to have problems in June, as his ERA ballooned up to 9.00 in that month and he only pitched three innings in the entire month. Cingrani’s June struggles were likely cause by shoulder inflammation, and Cingrani was put on the 15-day DL halfway through the month.

Following a DL stint, Cingrani played four games with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, and started three of those games. With the Bats, Cingrani was fantastic, and pitched 14 innings without giving up a run. And after his strong showing in Louisville, Cingrani was brought back up to the Reds where scoreless innings streak came to a disastrous end when he pitched 2 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs, and gave up five runs off six hits, that resulted in Cingrani promptly being sent back down to Louisville.

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Between late July and early September, Cingrani made only five more appearances with the Bats (missing time due to a neck strain), starting three of those games and ending up with a 4.41 ERA. But he finished strong and didn’t allow a run in his last two appearances.

Cingrani was brought back up to the Reds in their expanded roster in September and finished the year struggling. In September, Cingrani pitched seven innings and gave up seven runs, including eight hits, five walks and two home runs. By the end of the year, Cingrani’s numbers were abysmal: 0-3, 5.67 ERA, 1.680 WHIP, 4.48 FIP.

It certainly wasn’t Cingrani’s best year, but he did get off to a great start. I believe his numbers were inflated because of his injuries and had he stayed healthy, he would’ve had a much better year with the Reds. That being said, I can’t over look a 5.67 ERA and a -0.6 WAR.

Grade: D