Headlines

  • Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024
  • Brooks Robinson Passes Away
  • Reds’ Matt McLain Shut Down For Remainder Of 2023 Season
  • Padres Plan To Reduce Payroll To Around $200MM; Front Office Changes Possible
  • Marlins Place Eury Perez On 15-Day Injured List, Select Jeff Lindgren
  • Sandy Alcantara Shut Down For Rest Of 2023 Season
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reds’ Graham Ashcraft Scheduled For Season-Ending Toe Surgery

By Mark Polishuk | September 16, 2023 at 7:16pm CDT

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.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Cincinnati Reds Graham Ashcraft

AL East Notes: Verdugo, Sale, Misiewicz, Hamilton, Mountcastle, Cimber
Main
NL East Notes: Manuel, Acuna, Soler
View Comments (17)

Comments

  1. This one belongs to the Reds

    2 weeks ago

    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.

    5
    Reply
  2. Cincyfan85

    2 weeks ago

    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.

    3
    Reply
    • vamosrojos

      1 week ago

      They are not one starting pitcher away from winning the World Series. Lol

      Reply
    • vamosrojos

      1 week ago

      They are not one starting pitcher away from winning the world series.

      Reply
  3. RichP

    2 weeks ago

    Still a head scratcher on why management didn’t do more to shore-up the pitching staff for a playoff run at the deadline?

    1
    Reply
    • cguy

      2 weeks ago

      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.

      4
      Reply
      • raregokus

        2 weeks ago

        This is cope

        Reply
      • octavian8

        2 weeks ago

        100% agree guy. Krall was correct in refusing to overpay for overpriced pitching. There’s more to think about than one season.

        2
        Reply
  4. mrflimflam

    2 weeks ago

    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.

    Reply
  5. mrflimflam

    2 weeks ago

    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.

    Reply
  6. mrflimflam

    2 weeks ago

    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!

    1
    Reply
    • egrossen

      2 weeks ago

      Yes, every time. Not sure why.

      1
      Reply
    • earmbrister

      1 week ago

      Every

      Single

      Time

      Reply
  7. Hemlock

    2 weeks ago

    Will he be having Toey John surgery?

    3
    Reply
  8. DockEllisDee

    2 weeks ago

    Not sergeant Hulka!

    2
    Reply
  9. BrandonGregory74

    2 weeks ago

    “Does he need a toe? I’ll get him a toe!”

    Reply
  10. BrandonGregory74

    2 weeks ago

    “Does he need a toe? I’ll find him a toe!”

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024

    Brooks Robinson Passes Away

    Reds’ Matt McLain Shut Down For Remainder Of 2023 Season

    Padres Plan To Reduce Payroll To Around $200MM; Front Office Changes Possible

    Marlins Place Eury Perez On 15-Day Injured List, Select Jeff Lindgren

    Sandy Alcantara Shut Down For Rest Of 2023 Season

    Brandon Lowe To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Kneecap Fracture

    Rays Promote Junior Caminero

    Sean Doolittle Announces Retirement

    Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager

    Qualifying Offer Value To Land Around $20.5MM

    Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Elbow Surgery

    Marlins Claim Matt Moore From Guardians

    Rays To Announce New Stadium Deal

    Reds Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment

    Shohei Ohtani Out For Season With Oblique Strain

    Marcus Stroman To Pitch Out Of Bullpen

    Red Sox Fire Chaim Bloom

    Orioles Select Heston Kjerstad

    Jasson Dominguez To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Recent

    Jeff McNeil Diagnosed With Partially Torn UCL; Surgery Not Expected

    NL West Notes: Rockies, Giants, Heyward

    NL Notes: Contreras, Pirates, Santana

    Offseason Outlook Chat Transcript: Pittsburgh Pirates

    Blue Jays’ Jay Jackson Will Be A Free Agent This Winter

    Brewers Designate Brian Anderson, Reinstate Garrett Mitchell From 60-Day Injured List

    Offseason Outlook: Pittsburgh Pirates

    Brewers’ Colin Rea Will Be A Free Agent This Winter

    The Opener: AL East Race, Rangers/Mariners Series, Acuna

    Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version