Graham Ashcraft hasn’t pitched since September 1 due to a stress reaction in his right big toe, and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer (X link) reports that the Reds right-hander is slated to undergo surgery on the toe on Tuesday. This procedure would seemingly mark the end of Ashcroft’s 2023 season.
It has been an inconsistent campaign for the 25-year-old, which perhaps isn’t surprising for a low-strikeout pitcher who relies heavily on ground balls. Ashcraft posted a 2.00 ERA over his first six starts and 36 innings of the season, was then rocked for a 12.82 ERA over his next eight starts and 33 innings, and then righted the ship again by delivering a 2.58 ERA over his last 12 starts and 76 2/3 frames.
All told, Ashcraft has a 4.76 ERA over 145 2/3 innings, as well as a 47.8% grounder rate. His 17.8% strikeout rate is only in the 13th percentile of all pitchers, while his walk and hard-hit ball rates are almost exactly league average. Ashcraft is a hard thrower who averages at least 95.8 mph on both his cutter (his primary pitch) and his sinker, but his velocity hasn’t translated into many missed bats.
Despite the wide variance in results, Ashcraft’s ability to deliver solid bottom-line numbers for the majority of the season has been a boon to a Reds team desperate for reliable starting pitching. His absence for the remainder of 2023 is a blow to Cincinnati’s postseason hopes, as the Reds are battling five other teams for the NL’s three wild card slots. Without Ashcraft providing any further help, the Reds will continue to rely on their young lineup and steady bullpen, as well as whatever they can get from an increasingly makeshift rotation.
Incredible. I wish Graham a speedy recovery.
The boys are hanging in there despite the front office failures going back to last offseason in shoring up the statting pitching and getting the youngsters a veteran presence. The players are to be commended for hanging in there so long.
This sucks. I feel like the Reds’ only hope was to have Ashcraft come back to pair with Hunter Greene for the postseason. They should have traded for someone at the deadline. What a trash decision not to.
They are not one starting pitcher away from winning the World Series. Lol
They are not one starting pitcher away from winning the world series.
Still a head scratcher on why management didn’t do more to shore-up the pitching staff for a playoff run at the deadline?
No mystery at all. Pitching was at a premium at the trade deadline and Krall refused to overpay (in talent). Besides most of the sp traded for have not worked out. I am ecstatic that the Reds finally have a GM with a plan and the resolve to stick to it. Remember, 2024 is the year the Reds were to emerge from this rebuild. Reds have endured more than their share of injuries and are still playing exciting September baseball. These opportunities that Richardson, Phillips, and Spiers get this month could be very beneficial next year and beyond. Finally, lack of sp just allows Reds to continue to showcase one of the most effective relief corp they’ve had sin ce the Nasty Boys.
This is cope
100% agree guy. Krall was correct in refusing to overpay for overpriced pitching. There’s more to think about than one season.
Shame, he was their best starter before the injury. The Reds have basically no big money contracts on the books next year so during the offseason the FO needs to extend some of the young players to cover arbitration years and maybe 1-2 years of FA. They also need to sign a veteran SP ( Gray, Montgomery or Nola) to lead the rotation and sign an established setup man for the pen. I wouldn’t mind seeing them trade for Salvadore Perez from KC as long as it doesn’t break the prospect bank. I like stephenson but I think the shoulder injury from last season has really affected his hitting. They really need a veteran hitter to place among the young players who can hit consistently. I think resigning Votto to an incentive ladden contract would be the right thing to do for him and the team as well. The team reminds me of the Orioles. I believe they will explode next year and win over 90 games and be a serious threat for the world series if the right moves are made this offseason. This team will be good a long while as long as they don’t trade away the wrong player (India) and screw up the chemistry. These guys really enjoy playing together. I think (hope) Krall understands that. I really believe that is why he did not add at the deadline. Most teams, I suspect, wanted one of the young guys on the 40 man for a rental or lesser pitcher. I would have loved for them to have gotten a veteran SP but not at the cost of trading Arroyo, Marte, India, etc.
Shame, he was their best starter before the injury. The Reds have basically no big money contracts on the books next year so during the offseason the FO needs to extend some of the young players to cover arbitration years and maybe 1-2 years of FA. They also need to sign a veteran SP ( Gray, Montgomery or Nola) to lead the rotation and sign an established setup man for the pen. I wouldn’t mind seeing them trade for Salvadore Perez from KC as long as it doesn’t break the prospect bank. I like stephenson but I think the shoulder injury from last season has really affected his hitting. They really need a veteran hitter to place among the young players who can hit consistently. I think resigning Votto to an incentive ladden contract would be the right thing to do for him and the team as well. The team reminds me of the Orioles. I believe they will explode next year and win over 90 games and be a serious threat for the world series if the right moves are made this offseason. This team will be good a long while as long as they don’t trade away the wrong player (India) and screw up the chemistry. These guys really enjoy playing together. I think (hope) Krall understands that. I really believe that is why he did not add at the deadline. Most teams, I suspect, wanted one of the young guys on the 40 man for a rental or lesser pitcher. I would have loved for them to have gotten a veteran SP but not at the cost of trading Arroyo, Marte, India, etc. I believe Krall is a better GM than some fans give him credit for. He is young like the team. I believe it works well. Good time to be a Reds fan.
Does anyone else ever receive an error message ‘Unexpected response from server. Please try again later’ when posting a comment? I seem to receive that each time I attempt to post and end up duplicating my comment IF it goes through. Frustrating!
Yes, every time. Not sure why.
Every
Single
Time
Will he be having Toey John surgery?
Not sergeant Hulka!
“Does he need a toe? I’ll get him a toe!”
“Does he need a toe? I’ll find him a toe!”