Cincinnati Reds promote bullpen coach Mack Jenkins

The Cincinnati Reds fired pitching coach Mark Riggins on Monday. As a result, the Reds’ former bullpen coach Mack Jenkins was promoted to pitching coach and Triple-A pitching coach Ted Power was promoted to Jenkins’ old role.

The Reds rank 30th … yes out of 30 MLB teams … in earned run average with a dismal 5.51 ERA. They also rank last in walks (370), home runs allowed (147), blown saves (17) and hit batters (44).

Cincinnati ranks near the bottom in almost every other relevant pitching category including quality starts (27th), strikeouts (25th), batting average against (28th) and stolen bases allowed (27th).

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In Zach Buchanan’s story via the Cincinnati Enquirer, Bryan Price was quoted regarding the move and the team’s pitching situation:

“We haven’t been able to pitch up to the expectations of some of our young pitching. There’s been a ton of challenges, no doubt. But we expect more. We’re going to do everything we can in the second half of the season to make sure that these young guys get a lot closer to being able to play winning baseball than they have in the first half. It’s a very difficult day and a difficult decision.”

The Reds have a myriad of young arms that were/are to be groomed and prepared during this hard-to-be-patient rebuilding process. Among those include 25-year-old John Lamb, 23-year-olds Cody Reed and Brandon Finnegan and 23-year-old prospect Robert Stephenson who has made two starts for Cincinnati this season. Anthony DeSclafani (26) and dan Straily (27) are the other two starters currently in the team’s rotation.

Tony Cingrani (27), Raisel Iglesias (26) and Michael Lorenzen (24) — currently in the bullpen — also figure to be involved in the Reds’ future whether it be starting or relieving.

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With four games remaining until the All-Star break stuck in last place of the NL central with the thrid worst record in baseball at 31-54, the Reds will almost assuredly not be adding quality veteran arms to their staff at this season’s trade deadline.

However, Cincinnati does have a surplus of young arms in the farm system including back-to-back Futures Game selection Amir Garrett, currently in Triple-A, the former St. John’s basketball standout. Others include Keury Mella, Nick Travieso, Rookie Davis, Antonio Santillan among others.