The Reds reinstated Ashcraft (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The right-hander has been sidelined since May due to a UCL sprain in his elbow, but he's ready to rejoin Cincinnati's bullpen after a five-outing rehab assignment. Ashcraft had one save and 10 holds with a 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 32:16 K:BB across 27 innings prior to the injury, but he could be eased back into a high-leverage role.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Will be activated Sunday
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Ashcraft (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Out since late May with a sprained UCL in his right elbow, Ashcraft permitted two runs with a 6:3 K:BB over 4.2 frames across five rehab appearances. The 28-year-old was working in a setup role when he got hurt, but he could be eased back into high-leverage situations.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Rehab schedule mapped out
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Ashcraft (elbow) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Ashcraft opened a rehab assignment and is scheduled to pitch at least two more games for the Bats on Friday and Sunday, per MLB.com. The right-hander has been out of action since May 29, when he suffered a right UCL strain.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: On throwing program
Rotowire
Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft will eventually move out to 120 feet and possibly begin bullpen sessions Aug. 2. The right-hander landed on the 60-day injured list in late May and should return at some point during the month of August.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Another elbow scan Tuesday
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Ashcraft (elbow) will receive another scan on his UCL on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Ashcraft had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow at the beginning of the month, so the scan will presumably gauge the healing of the ligament. The Reds placed him on the 60-day injured list May 29, making him ineligible to return until late July.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Receives PRP injection
Rotowire
Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft got the injection after a second opinion confirmed he's dealing with a UCL sprain. The right-hander was immediately placed on the 60-day injured list following the injury last Friday and is not expected back until some point after the All-Star break.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Goes to 60-day IL with UCL sprain
Rotowire
The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list Friday with a UCL sprain in his right elbow, Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati reports.
Ashcraft felt discomfort following his last appearance Monday versus the Mets, and an MRI revealed UCL damage. The reliever will not undergo surgery at this point, but he will be given an injection and is expected to miss multiple months. It's a major blow to the Cincinnati bullpen, as Ashcraft has logged a 3.33 ERA and 32:16 K:BB over 27 innings while notching one save.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Unable to locate
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed four runs on one hit and three walks without retiring a batter in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-6 win over Cleveland.
Ashcraft walked the first three batters he faced on 12 pitches before giving up a run-scoring single. His night was done after 15 pitches (three strikes) and more runs were charged to him when Brock Burke walked in two more runs and allowed a third on a sacrifice fly. Ashcraft, who entered Friday with three consecutive scoreless outings, is part of an unsettled closer mix since Emilio Pagan (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Since the injury, Ashcraft has allowed six runs with four walks and a blown save over four innings.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Blows save chance Wednesday
Rotowire
Ashcraft blew his save opportunity during the Reds' 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning.
The Reds' four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning gave the team a two-run lead. With Tony Santillan being used Tuesday, manager Terry Francona turned to Ashcraft to close things out in the bottom of the frame. Ashcraft opened the inning strongly by striking out Michael Busch, but after yielding a single to Carson Kelly, Ashcraft's 89-mph slider was smacked to left-center field by Pete Crow-Armstrong for a two-run homer to tie the game at 6-6. With Emilio Pagan expected to miss the next 4-to-8 weeks due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Ashcraft and Santillan figure to be the top closer options for the Reds. However, more outings like Wednesday's could result in Ashcraft being used as the setup arm for Santillan for as long as Pagan is sidelined.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Back from bereavement list
Rotowire
The Reds activated Ashcraft (personal) from the bereavement list Saturday.
Ashcraft went on the team's bereavement list Wednesday, but he is back with the Reds and available for the rest of the weekend road series against the Pirates. He has not given up an earned run since April 3 and boasts a 1.20 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB across 15 innings this season. Zach Maxwell was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Earns save with ABS assist
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Ashcraft walked one and struck out one over a scoreless 10th inning to earn the save in Sunday's 7-4 win over Minnesota.
Cincinnati closer Emilio Pagan was unable to lock down the win in the ninth, necessitating Ashcraft's appearance in the extra frame. His final pitch was originally called a ball but was overturned on an ABS challenge for strike three and earned the reliever his first career save. Ashcraft, who has a 1.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six holds over 12 innings, is a key component of what has been MLB's best bullpen in terms of ERA (2.31 over 85.2 innings).
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Earns hold Saturday
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Ashcraft walked one and struck out one over a scoreless seventh inning to earn a hold in Saturday's 2-0 win over Texas.
Ashcraft recorded his third hold in six appearances while working mostly in the seventh inning of games. He has a 3.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts and three walks over six innings.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
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: Slated for MRI
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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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Throws Wednesday
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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: Throws three perfect innings
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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: 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.
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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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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Struggles Friday
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the White Sox.
Ashcraft allowed four of the first five batters to reach base before being pulled -- he re-entered in the second inning -- and it was a grind in his fifth Cactus League start. With news that Andrew Abbott had an encouraging controlled start in a minor-league game earlier this week, Ashcraft's bid to win a spot in the rotation may have taken a hit. If Abbott can't get ready for the start of the regular season, Ashcraft could take a turn or two in April.
