1 Reds player who stunk in 2022 but should be much better in 2023

As a whole, the 2022 Cincinnati Reds were not very good at all. When a team loses 100 games, it's fair to say that they stink. Heck, even the players on that team would probably admit as much.

It's quite likely that the front office will part company with a number of players from last year's team, but not everyone who had a down-year will be dismissed. Whether it was due to injury, inconsistent playing time, or just bad performance, there are a handful of players who'll look to put 2022 in the rearview mirror and focus their attention on next season.

One such player will be Cincinnati Reds reliever Art Warren. After overcoming an oblique injury in 2021, Warren closed out the season very well. But after finding a new role at the back of the Reds bullpen in 2022, the right-hander struggled mightily.

Look for Reds RHP Art Warren to bounce back in 2023.

Art Warren was traded to the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2021 season and spent the first part of the year in the minor leagues. After debuting for his hometown Reds in May, Warren suffered an injury around the All-Star and was shelved for about two months. Prior to the injury, Warren owned a 1.88 ERA in 18 games out of the Cincinnati bullpen.

Warren returned with even better stuff during September of 2021. The right-hander was striking out opposing hitters left and right and didn't allow a single run to dent the plate over his final eight appearances of the season. Warren struck out 13 batters in 6.2 innings of work and was considered a potential closer on the Reds 2022 squad.

But perhaps putting Art Warren in higher-leverage situations was not the best idea. After all, not every pitcher is cut out to be a closer. Warren earned his first career save during his first outing of the 2022 season, allowing just one hit while striking out one against the defending champion Atlanta Braves on April 10th.

But his first appearance may have been his best. During the first three months of the season, Warren posted a 6.91 ERA in 31 appearances and walked 15 batters in 28.2 innings of work. That 12.1% walk-rate and 4.71 BB/9 were a far cry from what fans saw Warren put up in 2021.

An elbow injury shelved Warren for nearly two months, and while he Reds right-hander seemed to be able to induce more swings and misses, the walks still plagued the 29-year-old. Warren's last eight appearances in 2022 saw him post a walk-rate of nearly 18.0%.

Art Warren hopes to return healthy once spring training gets underway in Goodyear next February. Furthermore, with the return of pitcher Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims, Jeff Hoffman, and Tony Santillan, Warren's role will likely no longer be that of high-leverage reliever, something that may suit his abilities much better.