3 former Reds who turned their September call-ups into unforgettable MLB debuts

As the Cincinnati Reds’ farm system continues to gain prominence, September becomes a must-watch event. Not necessarily because of the month's playoff implications, but because of the roster expansion that occurs on September 1 and gives top prospects a taste of the majors.

Until 2019, anyone on the 40-man roster could get a taste of glory, but now that honor is reserved for just two additions. Teams are now restricted to just 28 players, and only 14 pitchers may be part of the active roster. Here are three former Reds players who turned heads during their September tryout.

3 former Reds who turned their September call-ups into unforgettable MLB debuts

Tim Pugh, Reds right-handed pitcher (1992)

Although righty Tim Pugh’s first start was a bit disappointing – he allowed four runs to the Montreal Expos over four innings – the 25-year-old quickly found his form. Pugh rattled off four straight wins in a little over two weeks. During that run, he allowed just four runs over 28 ⅓ innings and twice pitched into the ninth inning.

Pugh was a master of efficiency as the Reds made a late-season push in the NL West. Cincinnati allowed just 106 runs over 32 games in September/October, good for second-best in the National League. Unfortunately, only the division winner moved onto the postseason, and Pugh and the Reds sat at home that fall. Pugh never quite recaptured the success of his brief rookie campaign, and he retired due to injury following the 1997 season.

Juan Francisco, Reds third baseman (2009)

You would be excused if you saw Juan Francisco’s debut on September 14, 2009, and found his performance underwhelming. He struck out as a pinch-hitter in his only plate appearance. Four days later, Francisco gave Reds fans a taste of the eye-popping power that would make Great American Ball Park history a couple of years later.

Francisco’s ninth-inning pinch-hit homer against the Florida Marlins was his only long ball of the season. He was a go-to pinch-hitter, though, and produced a .500/.667/1.000 line coming off the bench that fall. He played that role for much of his big-league career, starting just 250 of his 404 career games. Francisco’s baseball career ran through Japan and Mexico before ending in the early 2020s.

Billy Hamilton, Reds centerfielder (2013)

The speedy Billy Hamilton had already amassed 395 stolen bases as a minor leaguer by the time he made his MLB debut on September 3, 2013. He had been proclaimed the 11th-best prospect by MLB.com. That baserunning skill had an immediate impact when he joined the Reds. Hamilton entered the 0-0 tie against the Cardinals as a pinch-runner in the seventh inning. He swiped second base and came around to score on a Todd Frazier double. The run stood as the difference maker.

Hamilton stole 13 bases in 13 games that September and was only caught stealing once. In his first start, he went 3-for-4 with two walks and four stolen bases. His legs added .647 probable wins for a Reds team that clung tightly to the final Wild Card spot. Although Hamilton last played in the majors in 2023, he is still tearing up the basepaths overseas.

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