Reds pitcher Mike Minor nearly eclipsed this dubious single-season record

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Minor will miss the remainder of the 2022 season after being placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder soreness. Luis Cessa rightfully started in placed of Minor during Friday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

This will mercifully bring Minor's time with the Reds to a close. The left-hander has a $13M team-option for next season that includes a $1M buyout. Cincinnati will, of course, decline the option, making Minor a free agent this offseason.

Minor's placement on the IL brings to a close one of the worst performances by a starting pitcher in franchise history. Minor nearly eclipsed the outrageous 6.47 ERA that Eric Milton posted while playing for the Reds in 2005.

Reds pitcher Mike Minor nearly eclipsed this dubious single season record.

The Cincinnati Reds offseason was littered with questionable moves. Fans were angry when Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker were traded to the Seattle Mariners. The fanbase was upset when Sonny Gray was dealt to the Minnesota Twins. But Reds Country was more or less perplexed when Cincinnati shipped Amir Garrett to Kansas City in exchange for Mike Minor.

Most of the Cincinnati faithful weren't sad to AG leave. Garrett's antics had worn thin and his performance suffered as well. With the Royals this season, Garrett has a 4.84 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 41 innings of work. Much like the Reds, the Royals have learned that they can not count on AG. It wouldn't be shocking if Garrett was non-tendered by Kansas City this offseason.

Trading for Mike Minor was about one thing; adding a reliable, veteran pitcher who could eat innings and limit the wear and tear on the Cincinnati Reds young pitching prospects (Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft). Unfortunately for the Reds, Minor gave the team none of that.

Minor was on the IL to begin the season and once he was finally activated on June 3rd, all he did was serve up home runs at a ridiculous rate. Minor posted a career-worst 2.20 HR/9. In fact, if Minor had been healthy all season, chances are good that he'd have passed Eric Milton for the most home runs allowed (40) in team history.

Mike Minor's time as a member of the Cincinnati Reds is over, and the future of the rotation looks bright with the likes of Greene, Lodolo, and Ashcraft. Hindsight is always 20/20, but Minor should have never been brought to Cincinnati.