Terry Francona explains why something special is brewing with Reds reliever Luis Mey

Though it's probably a case of too little, too late, the Cincinnati Reds are finally getting some reliable production from their high-leverage relievers. Emilio Pagán has been preposterously good in the second half (2.08 ERA in 13 innings, nine saves); meanwhile, Brock Burke has struck out more than one-third of the hitters he's seen since the All-Star Break.

But if there's a story we need to highlight, it's that of Luis Mey. The 25-year-old with big-time stuff couldn't keep the ball in the strike zone earlier this spring, which earned him a demotion back to the minor leagues.

He was finally given another chance after the trade deadline, and all he's done since is strike out 16 hitters over 9⅔ innings while allowing zero runs. And, perhaps most importantly, he's only issued two walks in that span.

What's the reasoning behind this newfound success? Reds manager Terry Francona seems to believe it's thanks to the development program the Reds put Mey on in Triple-A, where he began taking on multi-inning relief appearances (even making a start before getting called back up).

That work forced him to learn to control his fastball better and pace himself on the mound. If these improvements stick, it's easy to dream on his potential as a future high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen.

Luis Mey is reigniting "Reds closer of the future" conversations

There's never been a question about Mey's raw stuff. He's got a high-90s sinker that can cross triple digits on the radar gun, as well as a slider that is currently coaxing hitters into whiffing at the ball more than half the time they swing at the pitch. That's obscene.

What's changed is that Mey is attacking the zone with a purpose. His first-pitch strike percentage is way up compared to his earlier stint in Cincinnati this year, which is rather impressive considering he's added more horizontal break to his primary offerings over the past 12 months (likely due to a slight dip in his arm angle, from 35 degrees to 32).

Don't expect him to stop tinkering here -- his hard-hit rate is still above 50% since being called back up -- but the foundation he's currently laying is extraordinary. With Burke and Pagán due for free agency after this season (the latter has a player option), there's a non-zero chance that Mey could be the Reds' closer come Opening Day in 2027.

In order to bring that reality to fruition, he'll have to prove that his improvements are real over more than just a few weeks, but he's quickly evolving from "tantalizing prospect" to "closer of the future" in front of our eyes.

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