The Reds have designated right-handers Josh Ravin and Kyle Lotzkar for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Johnny Cueto and Sean Marshall, each of whom is returning from the 60-day disabled list, according to assistant director of media relations Jamie Ramsey (on Twitter).
Ravin, 25, was the Reds' fifth-round pick out of high school back in 2006. The California native posted a 5.82 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 6.7 BB/9 in 51 innings of relief between Double-A and Triple-A in the Cincinnati organization this season. Solid strikeout totals and troubling command have become the norm for Ravin, as evidenced by his career 8.1 K/9 and 6.1 BB/9 in parts of eight minor league seasons.
Lotzkar, 23, was a supplemental-round pick (53rd overall) by the Reds in 2007 as compensation for the loss of Scott Schoeneweis to free agency. Like Ravin, he posted impressive strikeout totals but struggled with his command, particularly in 2013 when he whiffed 41 batters in 38 innings between High-A and Double-A but issued 37 walks. His command problems haven't always been so extreme; in 86 1/3 innings for Double-A Pensacola in 2012, Lotzkar posted a 96-to-53 K/BB ratio.
