The Reds announced that they have signed left-hander Justin Bruihl to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league camp.
Bruihl, 27 in June, made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2021 and served as a frequently-optioned depth arm for that club until a few months ago. Through the end of July 2023, he had made 65 appearances for Los Angeles with a solid 3.65 earned run average. His 7.6% walk rate was fairly strong and his 44.7% ground ball rate around average, but his 15.6% strikeout rate in that time was quite low. Some good luck may have kept runs from crossing the plate, as his .263 batting average on balls in play was on the low side, and ERA estimators like his 4.48 FIP and 4.61 SIERA were less impressive than his actual ERA.
He was designated for assignment as the club needed some roster spots after acquiring Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the White Sox. He was flipped to the Rockies for cash but then struggled badly with his new club, allowing six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings over seven appearances. He was designated for assignment again in late August and passed through waivers unclaimed, eventually reaching free agency at season’s end.
The Reds have Sam Moll and Alex Young as southpaws slated for work in the big league bullpen but Bruihl will give them some experienced non-roster depth. If Bruihl can earn his way onto the roster at any point, he still has an option year remaining, meaning he could be sent back down to the minors without being exposed to waivers again.
Who???
If you find it surprising that teams have minor league signings of players you haven’t heard of, this might not be the site for you…
When you spend your life on Alcatraz, a lot of people’s names are just “Who??”
Bruihllllll, the sound I make when I’m barfing.
He the son of Dr. Steve Brule, of the famous Brule’s Rules segments.
I think Dr. Steve is better known for his skrateboarding skrills
There’s another lefty option in the bullpen folks were looking for. No Chapman or Hader but about what you’d expect. At least he’s a vet who has been around a while.
It does seem they need another lefty. What happens if Martinez becomes a long man? Would that mean the need for 3 lefties? Martinez probably wouldn’t be used for short stints. What does the minors look like? Krall did say that he may still add someone to a lesser deal to fill holes but unless they got a gl.owing report on this guy, it may be someone else.
I am implying that Moll is definitely making the team as he was one of the best lefty relievers last year.
One of the best lefties during his stint with the Reds.
Lodolo might be that other bullpen lefty. He needs to increase his innings after only starting 7 (?) games, IIRC, due to injury last year. Working out of the BP this year may allow him to increase his IP at a more reasonable rate.
I think they should team Lodolo up with Greene. Hunter is usually out after four or five innings and Lodolo has pretty much the same stating power. That would reduce wear and tear on the rest of the bullpen.
With more good arms around, time to think outside the box some.
Abbott was actually a closer in college. I could see him working out of the bullpen. The problem with Lodolo or Williamson is control issues. You need to be able to throw strikes. Sims rarely got hit hard but it would seem like he’d walk a couple of batters every inning although I know that wasn’t reality
Sims did walk too many for a reliever, but a lot of their bullpen guys do.
Why wouldn’t we want abbot starting after he did so well last year
I think he will be. If they are all healthy I think Martinez will be in the pen. No way Abbott isn’t in the starting rotation.
You’re right, he had a 15% walk rate, but also a 27% K rate. I was looking in depth at some stats of the Reds relievers the other day and saw that Sims inherited 55 runners but only let 15 of them score. If he could get that walk rate down he could be elite.
Greene averages a little bit over five innings per start, which is league average. Lodolo is slightly below five per start, but that should increase when he gets healthier. Greene is well on his way to becoming an ace and doesn’t need an opener.
I’m just saying that if the Reds were to move a lefty to the bullpen, it might be Abbott since he did it in college. Lodolo grades as a starter. Always has. Same with Williamson. Ideally you’d want Abbott as a starter but he definitely hit a wall last year
Was thinking the other way around, actually. Lodolo following Greene.
If Greene ever develops a good Castillo like change up, he’ll be unstoppable.
Martinez is a right handed pitcher.
Okay so send lodolo to the pen
He checks a box. He’s left handed and he throws a baseball. And that exactly what they expect.
Lefties for their career have hit less than 200 against him and they have never hit a homer against him. May be good to have in GABP when facing a power lefty.
His numbers are Bruihl.
I think this is a great lefty to have in the minors.
Provides some LHRP depth behind, Moll and Young , and Sanmartin (if healthy)and Lodolo, Abbott, and Williamson if any of those young SP are relegated to bullpen.
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BTW, it follows that the only LHRP the Reds could have signed to effectively upgrade their relief corp was Matsui.
The Akiyama experience spoiled the Matsui possibility…
Last year was a revolving between Cincy and Louisville’s bullpen. Nice option to have in your back pocket.
I’m not a big Reds fan, but I will give them credit for trying to improve their team. Meanwhile in St. Louis, Billionaire Bill Dewallet spends just enough of his money to attract at least 3 million fans into Busch Stadium every year, make huge profits and enjoy life in his mansion in Cincinnati.
Envious?
The first part, I totally agree. The Reds have had a nice offseason in my opinion. They should contend in that division next year. The 2nd part though. I hate the Cardinals, probably as much as any sports franchise out there, but they have been one of the more successful franchises for many years. They have never, and will never spend like the LA and NY teams, but they certainly pay Arenado, Goldschmidt, Gray, Mikolas, Contreras, etc., quite a bit of money. And Busch is always full. Gonna stay full. Their fans have always shown up.
I honestly thought he was still on the Rockies 40 man. I knew he stunk, but the Rox have a tendency to keep several pitchers that stink on the 40 man.
Bht he doesn’t stink against lefites., He actually is quite well fitted to be a lefty specialist. in 131 innings he only has given up less then a 200 average to them and no homeruns. Sounds good.
Except with the 3 batter minimum, lefty specialists are not really all that necessary anymore. It does no good to get out the tough lefty batter if the next two guys get on.
They still have some value if there’s two out and men on base with a lefty coming up.
Yeah, but you don’t really want to waste a roster spot on a situation that might happen just a few times a season.
And remember that they don’t get that lefty out EVERY time and when they don’t they would be forced to pitch to at least another batter that most likely will be a righty and who knows how the damage could be at the end.
Now it’s more like, bring in the lefty if there are two lefty batters back to back coming up or the next two out of three. Loogys are pretty much extinct.
A good reliever, it doesn’t really matter anyway. That lefty lefty, righty righty thing can be overrated sometimes.
Hope he keeps the Bru”t”ihl out of his name..