Cincinnati Reds call up Jumbo Diaz and Keyvius Sampson

The revolving door to the Cincinnati Reds bullpen keeps turning.

In effort to find some kind of help for their dreadful relief corps, the Reds have brought back a pair of familiar right-handers.

On Wednesday, the club announced it had called up Jumbo Diaz and Keyvius Sampson. To make room for them on the roster, the Reds sent down utility-man Jose Peraza and righty reliever Layne Somsen. Since Sampson was not on the 40-man roster, the team moved right-handed starter Homer Bailey to the 60-day disabled list.

The moves mean that the Reds will go back to an eight-man bullpen, while carrying four players on the bench.

Both Diaz and Sampson have thrown the ball well in Triple-A Louisville since being demoted from the Reds in April.

Diaz hasn’t given up a run in 10 innings, striking out 15 and walking only two. In 6 2/3 innings with Cincinnati at the beginning of the season, he posted a 5.40 ERA and allowed three home runs, which has been a major issue for him at the big-league level. In the middle of last season, he was sent down and pitched much better upon being recalled, so the hope is that will happen again.

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In seven appearances (three starts) spanning 19 2/3 innings, Sampson has allowed just three earned runs (1.37 ERA) and 13 hits, striking out 20. With just five walks, the 25-year-old has displayed much better control than he did at the beginning of the year with the Reds, when he walked four batters in three innings. He was curiously designated for assignment on April 20 instead of being optioned to the minors, but he ultimately cleared waivers.

The decisions to send Peraza and Somsen back to Louisville weren’t surprising.

Peraza’s stay was always going to be temporary, as the organization wants him to get regular playing time, something that won’t happen right now in the big leagues with Billy Hamilton back from the bereavement list. The 22-year-old started four games during his time with the Reds, going 3-for-12 at the plate.

Somsen was hit hard in his brief time with the Reds, allowing five runs, six hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.