The Reds announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Sam Benschoter from Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati also recalled southpaw Sam Moll from Louisville. Left-hander Joe La Sorsa and righty Connor Phillips were optioned to Triple-A in their place. The Reds already had an open 40-man roster spot after releasing Jeimer Candelario. Their 40-man roster is now at capacity.
Benschoter, 27, was an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State back in 2021. He’s spent the past four seasons climbing Cincinnati’s minor league ranks, reaching Triple-A late last season. That first run at the top minor league level didn’t go well, but the 6’3″, 215-pound righty has had a better showing in 2025. Benschoter has pitched 51 innings — 17 relief appearances, four starts — and logged a 4.06 ERA with a 21.6% strikeout rate, 6.4% walk rate and 51% ground-ball rate.
Benschoter relies heavily on a four-seamer that’s averaged 93.4 mph in 2025, combining that pitch with a sinker, slider, cutter and seldom-used curveball to round out his arsenal. He worked primarily out of the rotation in the lower minors but moved into more of a hybrid role in 2024. He’s progressively moved more and more toward a multi-inning relief role in 2025. Even in his four “starts” this season, Benschoter has pitched a combined 12 1/3 innings. He’s most commonly been used in relief for two to four innings at a time.
Top prospect Chase Burns lasted only one-third of an inning in yesterday’s drubbing at the hands of the Red Sox, forcing the Cincinnati bullpen to cover the rest of the game. The Reds turned to Brent Suter and the now-optioned La Sorsa and Phillips for two-plus innings apiece. All three men threw at least 31 pitches. That understandably prompted some moves to freshen up the relief corps. If today’s game gets out of hand one way or another, Benschoter would seemingly be an option for a long relief stint. He last pitched a week ago and should be able to cover several innings if need be.
Benschoter? I barely know her!
More dumpster diving instead of real major league talent.
Yeah TOBTR- Maybe the Reds should sign Ohtani or Skenes to be a relief pitcher. Let’s go out and blow hundreds of millions on some major league relievers. So instead of that they try out guys who are fringe players and hope to find a gem. You never know what our pitching coach can do with them. If you find one or two decent players at a bargain the team can spend more on impactful every day players. Personally I wish they would find a baller to sandwich between two guys throwing a hundred miles an hour. One day your looking at a blip going by you and the next there’s a butterfly coming at you at 60, then the next day the blip is flying by again. Takes some real adjustments.
Was meant to say knuckle baller. LOL
TOBTTR is always a downer. This is a procedural move, fresh arms for innings. No negative comments needed.
Interesting to note: Burns didn’t get optioned.
I would imagine Burns will get at least one more start unless he lays another egg. There’s two milestones in MLB. One is being good enough to get there. Two is learning how to make adjustments to stay.
No other healthy starting options on the roster at present.
I thought it was interesting that the Red Sox broadcasting team was almost sure Burns was tipping his pitches. I understand why they wouldn’t tell anyone on the Reds during the game, but might be something he needs to work on.