Emilio Pagán injury gives Reds fans the change they pushed for (but may regret)

A number of Cincinnati Reds fans have been clamoring for manager Terry Francona to replace Emilio Pagán as the the team's closer. Pagán suffered what appeared to be a significant hamstring injury after throwing a pitch during the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and those same fans will now get their wish. However, they may not like what comes next.

Obviously even Pagán's harshest critics didn't like to see what unfolded on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. In a tie game, Pagán took the mound, and after throwing one pitch to Cubs' infielder Nico Hoerner, immediately grabbed the back of his leg and tumbled to the ground.

Pagán needed to be carted off the field, and after the game, the Reds confirmed it was a hamstring injury. Cincinnati's closer will undergo further imaging on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury, but he'll unquestionably be headed to the injured list.

The Reds will need to replace Pagán in the bullpen. With Pierce Johnson scheduled to return from the bereavement list on Wednesday, he'll likely take Pagán's spot on the roster, but who takes the ball in the ninth inning with the lead is another story entirely.

Who will replace Emilio Pagán as the Reds closer?

After blowing three saves already this season, Reds fans have been debating who should take over for Pagán as the team's closer. Though the likes of Tony Santillan, Connor Phillips, and Graham Ashcraft are all viable options, each one comes with his own flaws.

Santillan — who surrendered the go-ahead run to the Pittsburgh Pirates during Sunday's 1-0 loss — allowed the game-tying home run to Cubs' first baseman Michael Busch during the bottom of the eighth inning on Tuesday. He was one of Francona's best relievers in 2025, but his velocity has been down this season. Santillan's 2.87 ERA is deceiving given his 5.31 FIP. He's also walking 14.1% of the batters he faces.

Phillips has strikeout stuff, but like Santillan, he walks a lot of batters. After a disastrous performance over the weekend in Pittsburgh (one in which he walked four straight batters and failed to record an out) the right-hander redeemed himself on Tuesday night in Chicago coming in for Andrew Abbott in the sixth inning and getting the Reds out of a bases-loaded jam. But that 22.5% walk rate will give Francona cause to pause.

Ashcraft might be Francona's best option. His breaking ball has been on point so far this season, and the right-hander owns a crisp 1.02 ERA through 17⅔ innings of work. But much like Santillan and Phillips, he's walking far too many batters (16.9% BB rate), and that's something Tito is unlikely to tolerate from his closer.

A dark horse to take over as the Reds' closer in Pagán's absence is the aforementioned Johnson — one of Pagán's best friends. He's not going to wow you with velocity or strikeouts (22.8% K rate), but he keeps the free passes to a minimum (7% BB rate) and has experience as a closer.

Regardless of who Francona turns to — and it may be a closer-by-committee situation — Reds fans will get to see what life without Pagán is like. Unfortunately, they may not like what they see.

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