GOODYEAR, Ariz. — For a lot of starting pitchers in Major League Baseball who are told they were going to be a reliever, it would seem like a demotion.
Graham Ashcraft, who was competing for a starter’s role with the Cincinnati Reds this spring, was told Thursday he was being switched to the bullpen.
However, the Huntsville High grad welcomed the announcement.
“I’m excited about it,” Ashcraft told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “It’s something that’s been going around for a while. When they originally called me up, that was what they kind of wanted me to do. Then I just had to fill a role when [Connor] Overton got hurt in 2022. That just kind of stuck.
- “I’m ready to see what it’s like. I feel like my personality type, I’m going to fit it pretty well. We’ll roll with the punches, get it going and see what happens.”
In 15 starts and 77 1/3 innings last season, Ashcraft was 5-5 with a 5.24 ERA. He spent July 8 through the end of the season on the injured list with a right elbow strain.
“The adrenaline rush is awesome. I’m excited to experience that side of it,” Ashcraft said. “Instead of having to go out there and manage letting stuff rip for seven innings, now I can go out there and do it in one or two innings.
“It will be fun to see what happens to the stuff.”
Senior Reporter Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05.
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