Reds News: Ex-Braves starter signs, Spencer Steer re-evaluated, former top pick demoted

After a heartbreaking loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, the Cincinnati Reds caught a flight out west and are set to begin a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday evening. Reds' left-hander Nick Lodolo is set to take ball for the series opener as Cincinnati looks to get back in the win column.

The Reds added another starting pitcher to their stable earlier this week after agreeing to a minor-league deal with former Atlanta Braves hurler Darius Vines. The right-hander hasn't appeared in a Major League game since 2024, but could offer the Redlegs some much-needed depth during the final month of the season.

Reds News: Cincy signs former Braves pitcher Darius Vines

Vines was a seventh-round pick of the Braves in 2019 after a collegiate career that included stops at Oxnard College (CA) and Cal State-Bakersfield. He spent four-plus years in the Braves' farm system before finally making his MLB debut in 2023.

Vines has just nine Major League games and 34 innings under his belt, but most recently he was pitching for Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. He made 15 starts to the tune of a 3.32 ERA with 69 punch outs. Vines is currently with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, though a late-season call-up can't be ruled out.

Reds News: Spencer Steer set to be re-evaluated on Saturday

Cincinnati's jack-of-all-trades Spencer Steer is set to have his right wrist re-evaluated on Saturday. He suffered a sprained wrist during an at-bat in the final week of July, and has been on the 10-day IL for nearly a month.

Steer's been in a splint since the diagnosis was made, and the hope is that his time away from the field has given the injury time to heal. Surgery could be on the table for the 28-year-old slugger, but the Reds' medical staff will know more after his consultation on Saturday. If Steer needs to go under the knife, his season will effectively be over.

Reds News: Austin Hendrick demoted to Double-A

In what may be the final nail in his coffin, former first-round pick Austin Hendrick has been sent back to Double-A Chattanooga. He received a promotion to Triple-A earlier this season, but during his 58 games with the Bats, he was hitting just .180/.264/.302 with seven home runs and 18 RBI.

Hendrick was the 12th-overall selection in the 2020 MLB Draft and he's never been able to find his footing in the pros. This season marks his fifth year in the Reds' farm system, and in 606 minor league games, he's only managed to post a .212/.295/.365 slash line. Unfortunately, it's probably time to officially call Hendrick a bust.

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