The Reds activated Ashcraft (forearm) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Ashcraft was shelved for the past two weeks with a right forearm strain, but he'll skip a rehab assignment and rejoin the Reds' bullpen for their weekend series against the Athletics. The right-hander has posted a 3.72 ERA and 56:24 K:BB over 58 innings in 2025 in his first season as a full-time reliever.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Resumes throwing program
Rotowire
Ashcraft (forearm) played catch Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 due to a right forearm strain, which an MRI confirmed to be inflammation in a muscle near his wrist. The next step for Ashcraft is to throw a side session Sunday and then face live hitters.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Shelved with forearm strain
Rotowire
The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a right forearm strain.
Ashcraft will be eligible for activation Sept. 9, but even if he's able to recover from the forearm strain with rest and rehab rather than season-ending surgery, he's still likely to need more than 15 days to move past the issue. He'll cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to lefty Nick Lodolo (finger), who was activated ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Dodgers. Ashcraft had emerged as a key late-inning weapon for the Reds in his first season as a full-time reliever and had been especially effective so far in August, logging 1.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB and collecting five holds in 11.1 innings over his 12 appearances on the month.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Slated for MRI
Rotowire
Ashcraft will receive an MRI on his right forearm, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ashcraft has reportedly been dealing with some soreness in his forearm near his wrist, so the Reds will have him undergo imaging to determine whether his discomfort is the result of a structural issue. The team will likely determine if a move to the injured list is necessary once the results of his tests come back.
Ashcraft walked one and struck out two over a scoreless inning in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Phillies.
Ashcraft, fresh off the injured list Friday, had a pair of scoreless outings over the weekend. Both appearances were in the seventh inning, as Ashcraft maintains a late-game role out of the Cincinnati bullpen. He has a 3.96 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP with 41 strikeouts and 15 walks across 36.1 innings.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Reinstated Friday
Rotowire
The Reds activated Ashcraft (groin) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
The right-hander landed on the shelf in mid-June due to a groin strain and will rejoin the big-league bullpen without needing a minor-league rehab assignment. In his first season as a reliever, Ashcraft has a 4.19 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 38:14 K:BB across 34.1 innings while recording nine holds.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Throws Wednesday
Rotowire
Ashcraft (groin) threw about 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Molly Burkhardt of MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft is closing in on a return following a couple of bullpen sessions over the weekend and then Wednesday's batting practice. The next step could be a brief rehab stint, or the Reds could opt to activate him, as the right-hander has completed the 15-day minimum on the IL.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Activity picking up
Rotowire
Ashcraft (groin) threw a bullpen session Friday and is scheduled for another one Sunday, MLB.com reports.
If all goes well this weekend, Ashcraft will throw a simulated game Wednesday in Boston. The right-hander transitioned this season from starter to reliever, a role for which the organization feels he's suited, with mixed results. The Reds believe Ashcraft has the right makeup to close games, and there was some chatter back in spring training about him getting ninth-inning chances, but Emilio Pagan is currently thriving in that role for Cincinnati.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Sent to IL with strained groin
Rotowire
The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right groin strain.
Ashcraft has struggled lately, permitting 10 runs over his last 11.1 relief innings. He'll be eligible for activation July 1, but it's unclear whether he'll be ready to go on that date. Luis Mey is taking Ashcraft's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.
Ashcraft blew the save Thursday against Atlanta after allowing two runs and two hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Closer Emilio Pagan worked each of Cincinnati's past two games, which opened the door for Ashcraft to receive his second save opportunity of the season. However, Ashcraft failed to convert in both instances, and he's given up six runs over his last seven outings after opening the season on a nine-inning scoreless streak. The right-hander owns a 2.95 ERA and 19:9 K:BB over 18.1 innings and should continue to see high-leverage work, but his shakier 1.36 WHIP could give manager Terry Francona some trepidation the next time he needs to choose an arm if/when Pagan is unavailable for a save situation.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Throws three perfect innings
Rotowire
Ashcraft (2-2) struck out four over three hitless and scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cardinals on Thursday.
A rain delay limited starter Andrew Abbott to four innings, prompting the need for Ashcraft to work multiple frames. Ashcraft retired all nine batters he faced, extending his streak to 13 straight batters that have failed to reach base against him, including eight retired via strikeout. He's handled the transition from starter to reliever with aplomb, posting a 0.57 ERA over 15.2 innings.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Earns multi-inning hold
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless relief innings to earn a hold in Friday's 5-3 win over Pittsburgh.
Ashcraft provided the bridge in the seventh and eighth innings, setting up Emilio Pagan for the save and picking up his second straight multi-inning hold. Ashcraft has not allowed a run over six appearances (7.1 innings) this season. Reds manager Terry Francona has leaned on Pagan as the team's closer, as the manager navigates endgame situations without Alexis Diaz (hamstring). However, Ashcraft's move from starter to reliever has been a success thus far and could eventually earn him save chances.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Throws scoreless eighth inning
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Ashcraft allowed two hits over a scoreless eighth inning in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Giants.
Ashcraft worked around traffic with the help of a double-play grounder to earn his first hold. Cincinnati's late-game deployments are under scrutiny after the club placed closer Alexis Diaz (hamstring) on the injured list, and Ian Gibaut blew a save Opening Day. Going back to Ashcraft's days as a starter, Reds coaches have mused about the right-hander's makeup being suited for the bullpen, including as a closer. On Saturday, he worked in a set-up role for Emilio Pagan. This is a not a situation where once Diaz is healthy, he'll automatically get the closer's role back. He had trouble throwing strikes in limited Cactus League usage, which did not please manager Terry Francona.
Ashcraft could be used as the closer if Alexis Diaz does not win the role coming out of spring training, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I think we still have some work to do," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "We want to make sure [Diaz's] got his legs under him, with his delivery and everything. We know what he can do. We just want to make sure he's ready to do it."
Diaz hasn't pitched a clean inning during Cactus League play, which included a disastrous outing March 15 that prompted him to work on delivery issues with pitching coach Derek Johnson. The pitcher then had a command-challenged outing against minor leaguers Friday, which set off speculation that Diaz may not be the closer and could open the regular season in the minors. Going back to 2024, there's been chatter about Ashcraft having the makeup of a high-leverage reliever. After he competed for the rotation during spring training, Ashcraft was shifted to the bullpen last week and pitched three scoreless relief innings Thursday. "We've all kind of teetered on that idea and what it would look like," Johnson, the pitching coach, said about Ashcraft as a reliever. "Obviously, we haven't seen it so we don't know. But he could be kind of that really nice piece in the bullpen that we didn't have to go out and acquire." Diaz is expected to throw an inning in the Reds' Cactus League finale Sunday, which could provide an indication about who will work as the team's closer when the season kicks off Thursday against the Giants.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Sharp in relief outing
Rotowire
Ashcraft walked one and struck out two over three scoreless innings of relief in Thursday's spring game against Kansas City.
Ashcraft was sharp in his first outing since losing out on the fifth spot in the rotation. He went 1-2-3 against the top of the Royals order in the fifth inning then added a scoreless sixth (walk, double play) and seventh, facing the minimum number of batters. Earlier in the day, manager Terry Francona decided on Carson Spiers over Ashcraft for the final rotation spot while Andrew Abbott (shoulder) will build up in extended spring training and eventually replace Spiers.
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