Reds pitching coach hints at Graham Ashcraft's role in 2025

With Hunter Greene now on the injured list, Graham Ashcraft's absence looms even larger. The Cincinnati Reds lost Ashcraft to a right elbow strain earlier this season. After struggling midway through his third big league season, Ashcraft was optioned to Triple-A, but was later placed on the IL.

The Reds' rotation is now without Ashcraft, Greene, Brandon Williamson, and Frankie Montas. But Cincinnati still has a ton of talented arms down in the minor leagues; many of which could be on the cusp of the big leagues by Opening Day next season.

While pitchers like Greene and Williamson will remain in the mix for the Reds starting rotation, there's been a lot of chatter surrounding the idea of moving Ashcraft into a relief role. Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson seemed to suggest that Cincinnati could definitely consider something like that heading into next season.

Reds pitching coach hints at Graham Ashcraft's role in 2025

Johnson recently sat down with C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic (subscription required), and Ashcraft's performance this season and his role in the future became a topic of conversation. During the conversation, Johnson said, "We just kind of have to figure out what the role is (for Ashcraft), what the best kind of route is for him to take."

If that doesn't scream future reliever, I'm not sure what does. Rosecrans later brought up the idea of Ashcraft becoming the Reds closer, which led Johnson to speak about the coaching staff's initial assumption that he would be a reliever, not a starter.

Johnson's remarks certainly cast doubt on the idea of Ashcraft rejoining the Reds rotation in 2025. The presence of players like Chase Petty, Connor Phillips, Rhett Lowder, and Julian Aguiar within the Reds organization make Ashcraft's eventual transition into a relief role all the more probable.

But the biggest indicator was Ashcraft's performance this season. Ashcraft struggled mightily the third time through the batting order. The right-hander allowed the opposition to hit .352/.425/.521 when he faced them a third time. That alone will likely see Ashcraft have very few chances to maintain his starting role heading into Goodyear next season.

Ashcraft can give length, so perhaps he'll take on the role similar to what Reds fans have seen from Nick Martinez this season. The starter, turned reliever, turned starter again has been invaluable to the Reds this season, and with Martinez able to re-enter the free agent market this winter, perhaps that's where Ashcraft will land upon his return in 2025.

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