Ranking the Cincinnati Reds best rookie starters heading into the 2022 season

3. Graham Ashcraft, Reds starting pitcher

Graham Ashcraft will be one of the most interesting players to watch during spring training. Both he and fellow pitching prospect Nick Lodolo received non-roster invites to join the team in Goodyear, Arizona this spring.

Ashcraft has a questionable future. While some see the 23-year-old as a slam dunk to wind up in the Cincinnati bullpen sometime in 2022, the Reds seem poised to allow the right-hander the opportunity to start.

Ashcraft has a wicked fastball/ slider combination. His heater has been clocked at 100-plus MPH and has a good amount of movement as well. Ashcraft also has an above-average slider that he'll typically use as his secondary pitch. If Ashcraft can develop his changeup into a solid third offering, the former sixth-round pick has a chance to stick in the starting rotation.

Ashcraft debuted in 2019 with good strikeout numbers and decent control and command of the strike zone. After missing out on the 2020 season, Ashcraft returned to the hill last season and showed an even better feel for his craft. The right-hander started eight games at High-A Dayton and posted a 34.2% strikeout-rate.

Graham Ashcraft's numbers tailed off a little once he received the promotion to Double-A Chattanooga, but the University of Alabama-Birmingham alum went 4-2 over his final two starts and struck out 52 batters over 51.2 innings of work.