Cincinnati Reds can review the progress of young pitchers as they shuffle through town

The Cincinnati Reds have had a chance to see most of their young pitchers this year and need to act on it.

This year the Cincinnati Reds have given chances to several young pitchers and also had a fair share make their MLB debut.  Amir Garrett and Rookie Davis both started the season in the rotation, despite having never thrown a single pitch in the majors.  Barrett Astin, Ariel Hernandez, and Sal Romano also made their MLB debuts this season.

The Reds also have given chances to Lisalverto Bonilla, Austin Brice, Jake Buchanan, Cody Reed, Robert Stephenson, and Asher Wojciechowski.  Reed and Stephenson played for the Reds last year, but the rest are new to the organization.  The other pitchers came over during the off-season or later.

Really, the Reds giving a chance to Buchanan and  Wojciecchowski shows either how desperate they are or how much they believe in their scouts.  Buchanan came straight from the Cubs’ Triple-A team to the Reds active roster.  Meanwhile, the Reds signed Wojciechowski to back fill the rotation at Louisville and he happened to get a chance in Cincinnati.

Want your voice heard? Join the Blog Red Machine team!

Write for us!

That Bonilla started for the Reds this season does show their desperation..  He is a project as a starter or a multi-innings reliever right now.  Instead, the Reds used him as a starter before they wanted to due to a combination of ineffectiveness and injuries on the staff.

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

Thanks to these chances the Cincinnati Reds can now pivot the development of the pitchers to their rightful places.

The Reds have discovered where a few players belong.  Davis may end up back with the Reds, but he is more likely going to end up as a starter somewhere else.  Stephenson is down to his last chance before the Reds ship him to either be someone else’s swingman or number two starter.

Reed may have a better future as a reliever in the majors.  The same appears true for Wojciechowski and Bonilla.

At least Garrett is the real deal, as has been expected for several years.

Buchanan looks poised to get a chance to replace Bronson Arroyo in the rotation heading into next season.  Austin Brice looks like  a middle reliever with great upside.  Both of them should be back with the Reds next season.

Next: Jake Buchanan tries to save the Reds' pitching staff

Of course, the other three Reds’ rookies, Astin, Hernandez, and Romano, didn’t spend enough time in Cincinnati yet.  They could be great or not.  The good news is that with the other pitchers demonstrating who they are, the Reds have the time to figure out what they really have in the trio and beyond.