12:45pm: The Reds announced the move, adding that lefty Justin Wilson is heading to the 10-day injured list with a soreness in his left elbow. With Wilson sidelined and Diehl up in the Majors, the Reds will still have just one lone southpaw option in the bullpen.
11:25am: The Reds are selecting the contract of left-handed reliever Phillip Diehl, reports C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic (Twitter link). It’ll be the Cincinnati native’s first big league work since appearing with the Rockies in 2020. The Reds have an open spot on the 40-man roster at the moment, so no corresponding 40-man move was necessary. The team hasn’t yet announced the transaction, though, so it’s possible it’ll be accompanied by other roster moves.
Diehl, 27, is in his second season with his hometown organization. He spent the 2021 season with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, where he pitched to a terrific 2.47 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate against a 5.6% walk rate in 54 2/3 innings of relief. Despite that showing, Diehl didn’t get a look in the big leagues with the Reds, who claimed him off waivers from the Rockies in early April and passed him through waivers a month later.
This season, Diehl has has yielded four earned runs on five hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts through eight frames. He’ll give manager David Bell a second southpaw option in a bullpen that had previously only included veteran Justin Wilson.
In 13 1/3 career Major League innings, Diehl has allowed 13 runs. He’s been outstanding at Triple-A dating back to last season, however, and has a long history of both missing bats (31.1% strikeout rate) and limiting free passes (6.7% walk rate) in parts of six minor league seasons.
At least the Reds are playing better than the White Sox
So I don’t know much about him…. what’s this guy’s Diehl
claiming Reynolds and then optioning a better and more projectable player. pure insanity.
Thought the same..that’s just stupid!
They needed a backup who could play SS.
Reds had a decent team then decided winning games cost to much. Their ballpark is not empty because of COVID.
You handle is on target(Highest IQ). Too bad the Reds fans are the victims.
Diehl’s been around a little. He’s a local guy; went to Moeller.
I think the story’s not quite right. There’s room on the 40-man, but someone will have to be removed from the active roster to make room. Yes, Lopez was optioned, but they added Reynolds in his place (and added India and DFA’d Riddle). So they stand at 28 and some corresponding move will be needed..
Seems odd to be adding a reliever now, when active rosters shrink back to 26 this weekend and 2 relievers have to go anyway.
But they need two lefties in the bullpen. We only have Williams since they traded Garrett for an old injured starter. Pathetic!
Sounds like a big Diehl for Reds fans…
I wish mlbtr would give a brief scouting report on a pitcher’s stuff with these fringe depth pieces. with the numbers he put up in AAA last season and not getting a look in the show I have to assume his velocity just doesn’t inspire confidence at the next level. wish I didn’t have to assume though
Why?
Less than 30 seconds later, on a 3-minute read article, one of the many Johnny Super Scouts here will layout some inane commentary on the person’s skill set, organizational direction, and the next series of moves that respective GM will making, all with well-thought commentary and perspective. Within 10 minutes, along will come Yankee Clipper and Halo11fan to add their highly developed feedback to the original scouting report, thus making it a 1 + 1 = 3 report.
Patience, my friend. We all win!
The Down, It’s only because they think they’re baseball experts and they have to comment EVERY article posted on this site. Anything for a up vote.
Correct – those two are consistent….every…single…article. They know how to manage all 30 teams.
So I see that”I stand with 48 team MLB” after crying about being mentally ill has changed his name to “Fox News Trump Yankees”… God I love the mute button.
Lloyd- Proably got a up vote on one of his stupid Team/ Location names and thought he was on to something
They need all help they can get
“One lone southpaw”. Meanwhile Amir Garrett is perfect in 5 outings and the guy they traded for him… who makes $8m per year more… is broken. BOB SELL THE TEAM. Sell your son too.
“Ah…another idiot”
-Al Waterman, Sponge Sales
Garrett needed to go. And I say that as a guy who loved him when he came up. Even outside of all of his struggles, he was not maturing as a player or as a person anymore. Had to go. Addition by subtraction.
Now you won’t find me defending any of the other moves….
100% agree. Garrett started great then became more worried about his Twitter feed and starting fights on the field. The puzzling part is trading for Minor. They would have been better off just releasing him instead of taking on that contract
He’s the real Diehl !