Reds call up high-octane arm whose biggest flaw still looms large

Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies, the Cincinnati Reds placed relief pitcher Graham Ashcraft on the bereavement list. Temporarily filling in for Ashcraft will be flamethrower Luis Mey who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.

This will be Mey's first time back in the big leagues since last season. The right-hander made his Major League about this time last year and opened a lot of eyes throughout Reds Country with his 100-plus mph sinker.

The Reds couldn't trust Luis Mey in high-leverage spots last season

Unfortunately, Mey was never able to establish himself as a go-to reliever in 2025. He logged 21 innings over 23 appearances out of the Cincinnati bullpen and posted a respectable 3.43 ERA during his rookie campaign. But his 1.619 WHIP and 17.7% walk rate were untenable.

Mey was shuttled back and forth between Cincinnati and Louisville all season, but this mini-audition will give the fireballer a chance to prove that he's improved both his command and control since the last time he stepped onto a Major League mound.

Mey was one of the last dismissals from Major League camp during spring training. He, along with Zach Maxwell, was competing with Sam Moll for the final spot on the Opening Day roster. Moll's surprising spring performance solidified his position, while both Mey and Maxwell were optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Mey has performed quite well since touching down in the Derby City. He's made 11 appearances for the Louisville Bats this season and owns an impressive 28.6% strikeout rate. More impressive, however, is the 6.1% walk rate attached to Mey's Triple-A résumé this season.

But while some of Mey's numbers are eye-catching, others are not so attractive. He was sporting a 4.91 ERA at the time of his call-up, and opponents were touching him up to the tune of .283 batting average. His 2.86 FIP lessens the worry a little bit, but the truth is that the Reds might not know what they have until he takes the mound.

Ashcraft has been one of Cincinnati's best relievers so far this season. He allowed two hits during Tuesday game against the Rockies, but managed to keep Colorado off the scoreboard. In total, he's made 15 appearances and owns a 1.20 ERA. The bereavement list allows teams to temporarily replace players for three to seven days, so the assumption is that Ashcraft will return within the week.

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