Reds starter Mike Minor was shellacked in an uninspiring Double-A rehab start

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Minor (31) stretches during workouts.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Minor (31) stretches during workouts. | Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

It's going to take a little more time for Mike Minor to get up to speed. The Cincinnati Reds placed Minor on the 10-day Injured List after the left-hander suffered some shoulder discomfort during spring training.

Thought to be a couple weeks behind the rest of the pitchers, both Minor and Luis Castillo were placed on the IL with the hopes of the team recalling them by mid-to-late April. After seeing how Minor performed on Wednesday night, maybe the Reds should shift their expectations to early-May.

Reds LHP Mike Minor was rocked in his rehab start.

Now, before we look at Mike Minor's line from his horrendous start on Wednesday night, let's remember that he didn't start a single game during spring training and this was his first live action of the year.

That said, the results were not good. Minor didn't make it out of the second inning, allowing six runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout in 1.2 innings of work. Minor also watched two balls leave the yard. Yikes!

That performance, in no way, will endear Minor to the fans throughout Reds Country, most of whom already the question the acquisition to begin with. Minor was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with $500K cash in exchange for left-handed reliever Amir Garrett.

I don't think an overwhelming number of fans had issue with the Reds parting ways with AG, but I do think the trade raised eyebrows in that Cincinnati's return was a left-handed starting pitcher slated to make $10M this season. That's the exact amount that they avoided paying Wade Miley when the front office waived the southpaw shortly after the 2021 season concluded.

I would expect at least one, if not two or three more rehab starts from Mike Minor before he rejoins the Cincinnati Reds active roster. Minor hit the first batter he faced on Wednesday night and the promptly surrendered a two-run to Chicago White Sox minor leaguer Craig Dedelow.

It's hard not overreact when a pitcher gets rocked the way Minor did on Wednesday night while pitching to Double-A talent. However, given that it was his first start, it's probably best to cut him a little slack. If his next rehab performance yields similar results, then Reds fans can begin to panic.

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