The Cincinnati Reds made a significant bullpen move this past Sunday, designating left-hander reliever Sam Moll for assignment. This isn’t just a minor roster shuffle, folks. It cleared the deck for the crucial return of Graham Ashcraft, who is officially back from the 60-day injured list just in time for the final three weeks of the regular season. This move signals a real urgency from the Reds as they gear up for the toughest part of their schedule.
Moll’s Tenure Ends Amid Struggles
Let’s be real, the writing was on the wall for Sam Moll. The dude joined the Reds at the 2023 trade deadline and put in work, making 161 relief appearances. But this season? It wasn’t pretty. He posted a 2-7 record with a 4.79 ERA over 65 games. That’s a lot of appearances for numbers that just don’t cut it when you’re trying to win ballgames. His last outing was a tough one, giving up two runs in just one inning during the Reds’ 10-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on September 4. When you’re shedding runs in crunch time like that, changes are gonna happen.
Ashcraft’s Wild Comeback Story
Now, let’s talk about Graham Ashcraft. The 28-year-old righty has been sidelined since May, nursing a UCL sprain that landed him on the 60-day IL. That was a brutal blow back then, especially since it happened when the Reds were in the middle of a serious “spring slide” toward the NL Central’s basement, and they were also without their closer, Emilio Pagán. The talk in May was about Tommy John surgery, which would have meant a year and a half out of the game. But Ashcraft went with a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection instead, betting on a quicker recovery. He said it himself back in May, “Missing two (or) two-and-a-half months is a lot better than missing a year-and-a-half.” You gotta love that grit. He put up a 1-1 record with a 3.33 ERA over 26 appearances before hitting the IL, showing flashes of what he can do.
The Bullpen’s Make-or-Break Stretch
So, what does this all mean for the Reds right now? Ashcraft is joining a bullpen that is finally at its healthiest point, and man, do they need it. This unit is looking to be a major strength over these final three weeks of the regular season. Why is that so crucial? Because Cincinnati is staring down baseball’s toughest remaining schedule. Every single arm needs to be on point, and having Ashcraft back, especially after avoiding a career-altering surgery, could be huge for their mental game as much as their pitching performance. It’s a massive challenge, but with Ashcraft back, the Reds are rolling into this final stretch with a renewed sense of purpose. Can this bullpen, now at full strength, hold it together against the best of the best? It’s going to be a wild ride to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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