The Reds announced Wednesday that they’ve recalled righty Jose Franco, who’d been optioned to Triple-A earlier in the week. Franco wasn’t originally slated for the Opening Day roster, but with southpaw Nick Lodolo hitting the 15-day IL due to a blister issue on his left hand, Franco is now in line to make his major league debut at some point in the near future. Cincinnati also placed lefty Caleb Ferguson on the 15-day IL due to an oblique strain. Fellow lefty Sam Moll, who’s out of minor league options, gets a spot as a second lefty in the Opening Day bullpen.
Franco, 25, looked sharp in limited spring work, holding opponents to a pair of runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings during Cactus League play. He’s one of the top-ranked arms in the Reds’ system, understandably so on the heels of a 2025 season in which he combined for 110 innings of 3.11 ERA ball between Double-A and Triple-A. Franco set down just over one quarter of his opponents on strikes, though his 11.5% walk rate could stand to come down a couple ticks.
The hard-throwing Franco averaged 95.3 mph on a four-seamer that headlined a three-pitch repertoire last year. He also features curveball that sat 84.4 mph and a more seldom-used changeup that averaged 88.7 mph. Scouting reports at FanGraphs, Baseball America and MLB.com tab him as a potential fourth starter or someone who could fill a role comparable to the swing role held by Nick Martinez in Cincinnati for the past couple seasons.
It’s not yet clear when Franco will get into a game. With Hunter Greene out til midseason following elbow surgery and Lodolo hitting the IL due to his blister troubles, the Reds will open the season with Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson in the rotation (in that order). Franco could potentially piggyback with Burns, who was slowed by some range-of-motion issues late in camp. Since he’s stretched out for a starter’s role in Triple-A, he’s also a long relief option in the event that any Cincinnati starter has a short outing in his first appearance of the season.
Beyond Franco’s quick recall, there were no other surprises of any real note in today’s announcement of the Opening Day roster. Cincinnati selected Nathaniel Lowe‘s contract a couple days ago and moved Greene to the 60-day IL at the time. They also optioned outfielder JJ Bleday to Triple-A Louisville at the time, effectively setting the bench with a contingent of Lowe, backup catcher Jose Trevino, outfielder Dane Myers and jack-of-all-trades Spencer Steer (who won’t have one set position but will rotate through various spots on the diamond as needed). Will Benson made the roster and will get the lion’s share of playing time as half of a left field platoon. He and Bleday both had huge power displays this spring, and both will probably float between Triple-A and the majors as their performance and injuries up and down the roster dictate.
Great article. Thank you.
This demonstrates that Tito, DJ, and Krall have some confidence in their SP depth. I hope it’s well-advised.
Under the current rules, a team can option a player only 5 times during a season before exposing him to waivers. By optioning and then recalling Franco, are the Reds now limited to optioning him only 4 more times this season? Or do they still have all 5 times remaining in 2026, since the season hadn’t yet begun?
Getting that call to MLB has to be so incredible.
Next to Burns and Lowder, Franco is probably the next best starting pitching talent in the system. Probably wouldn’t be up this early otherwise, but getting an opportunity early do prove himself.
I just quickly glanced at the headline and thought it said JOHN Franco. I was wondering exactly how desperate the Reds were for bullpen help. He’s old, but he is one of their best relievers ever. So…maybe.