A enjoyable truth on each Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher

After going via the Reds’ hitters yesterday, right here’s a enjoyable truth on every Reds’ pitcher. (This article additionally serves as a recap of my spring coaching protection for those who missed a narrative).

Andrew Abbott

Andrew Abbott, a 26-year-old from Virginia, was 5 years outdated when Joe Nuxhall retired full-time from broadcasting in 2004. Reds historical past and the No. 41 uniform quantity connects them. Now, Abbott is aware of all about The Ol’ left-hander.

Abbott does work with the Joe Nuxhall basis, has requested numerous questions on Nuxhall as a participant, individual and broadcaster and even has a Nuxhall baseball card in his assortment.

Abbott says, “I couldn’t be more proud to wear (No. 41).”

Nick Lodolo

Nick Lodolo’s greatest reward has a darkish aspect to it — his slider is his finest pitch, however the grip has aggravated his blister difficulty up to now.

Lodolo has tried to make the pores and skin on that left index finger harder by submitting it. He has discovered, “The toughness of the skin isn’t a part of it.”

In the phrases of Derek Johnson, Lodolo’s fingers are “naturally moist.” Lodolo swears rather a lot in his fingers.

That plus Lodolo’s grip isn’t a great mixture.

Lodolo has tried just a few completely different methods through the years. A brand new one, he stated just lately, is “some laser stuff that might be able to help. A red light type thing that helps skin growth.”

Brady Singer

Between 2023 and 2025, Brady Singer ranks thirteenth in all of MLB in begins made (93). Last 12 months, Singer delivered 13 begins the place he pitched 6+ innings and allowed two-or-fewer runs. If you take away two actually unhealthy begins he had (permitting seven runs to the Astros and Nationals), his ERA in his different 30 begins final 12 months was 3.38.

Chase Burns

I’m a Chase Burns man, and my confidence in his future is effectively documented. Still, it’s truthful to say that he was looking through the second half of spring coaching. There was the de-load day, the day the place Burns’ vary of movement wasn’t 100% and some begins the place his fastball command wasn’t as much as par.

Separately, one of many storylines I’m most trying ahead to this 12 months is how with extra expertise underneath Burns’ belt and extra expertise, how he begins showcasing extra of his edge and aggressive hearth on the mound.

Rhett Lowder

Rhett Lowder’s indirect damage final 12 months was so important that it took him just a few weeks to be snug with each day actions.

“It was weeks before I could really sneeze,” Lowder stated. “That was my barometer.”

He ended up lacking your entire 2025 season. Lowder’s old-school method allowed him to do one thing very troublesome this spring — hitting the bottom operating after lacking a full season.

“He knows how to pitch,” Terry Francona stated. “His future is extremely bright. I know I’ve said it, but he pitches like a veteran. He throws strikes. He changes speeds, follows the glove. Kind of fun to watch.”

Brandon Williamson

Last week, he referred to as his spouse and his two children. Brandon Williamson, who missed nearly your entire 2024 season with a shoulder damage after which missed all of 2025 after having Tommy John surgical procedure informed his household that he had made the Reds’ Opening Day roster.

“I told them that we did this together,” Williamson stated.

Spending the final two years sidelined with accidents allowed Williamson some extra time to spend with four-year-old daughter Pollie and two-year-old daughter Pruitt.

“It was awesome to be able to stay with them for two years,” Williamson stated. “I’m super glad I got to be able to do that. We’re all ready to be back in the ballpark playing again. We can experience the big leagues together.”

Bullpen

Emilio Pagán

In the afternoon earlier than Game 2 of the playoffs in Los Angeles final 12 months, Emilio Pagán was doing his regular routine and threw off of the mound.

Last season, he solely used his splitter 20% of the time. He needs that to be a swing and miss pitch, however he wasn’t getting that whiff on the stage he wished all season. Pagán was in a position to overpower guys together with his fastball and in addition pitch to contact, however he has felt like he wanted extra swing and miss.

During that session throwing off of the mound within the afternoon in LA, Pagán felt the splitter click on.

“The best it’s felt,” Pagán stated.

He may have thrown that pitch rather well that night time. But as a result of the Reds by no means received to a save state of affairs within the Dodgers’ two-game sweep, Pagán by no means entered the sport in that sequence.

During the offseason, Pagán caught with the grip that clicked that day. The improved splitter is a method for him to be higher in 2026.

Tony Santillan

During a spring coaching sport in early March, Tony Santillan admitted one thing to Jose Trevino throughout a mound go to.

Santillan informed his catcher, “I don’t think I’m going to get another out. This is over. They need to come get me. I can’t throw a strike.”

It was a reminder that it could actually take time for any pitcher to get right into a rhythm in spring. Santillan made some changes earlier than his subsequent outing, a small tweak to his posture, and appeared like himself very quickly.

Graham Ashcraft

Last 12 months, left-handed hitters posted a .230 common and a .608 OPS versus Ashcraft, whose successfully wild cutter permits him to have reverse splits. The right-handed Ashcraft even received some expertise as a “left-handed specialist,” and that’s particularly helpful for a Reds’ crew that will likely be lacking Caleb Ferguson (indirect) to open the season.

Brock Burke

Here are the left-handed relievers who threw a pitch of 100 mph+ final season.

-Aroldis Chapman (All-Star)

-Jose Alvarado (makes $9 million, good reliever)

-Mason Montgomery (rookie in 2025, the Pirates simply focused him in a notable commerce with the Rays)

-Jose A Ferrer (excellent — traded just a few months in the past for a top-50 prospect in MLB)

-Adrian Morejon (All-Star)

-Gregory Soto (two-time All-Star)

-Brock Burke

With the Rangers in 2022, Burke was among the finest relievers in MLB. He took a step again in 2023 after which was launched by the Rangers in 2024. The Angels picked him up, and he has been very constant since he joined the Angels.

He says that the change of surroundings was a turning level.

“I got back to doing what was good for me, what I do well,” Burke stated. “I fixed a few bad habits that I had developed and got back to throwing the way I did in 2022 without thinking too much about mechanics. The way my body wants to move naturally is the way that it was going to. It helped a lot.”

Pierce Johnson

Other than Emilio Pagán, since Nick Krall turned the entrance workplace’s lead determination maker in 2020, Pierce Johnson’s $6.5 million wage was the next-most that Krall has given to a reduction pitcher in free company.

He has been a standout reliever since he joined the Braves on the deadline in 2023.

“When I got to Atlanta, they sat me down and said your curveball is your best pitch,” Johnson stated. “You weren’t getting it down in Colorado. We want you to throw it more and bury it when you have two strikes.”

He developed among the finest curveballs within the sport.

Sam Moll

Moll had a gradual begin to spring as he struggled with command. He turned that nook, appeared just like the pitcher who had numerous success in 2023 and 2024 and earned a spot on the crew.

“It’s that simple,” Moll stated. “Sometimes, it hasn’t been simple to throw it through the zone. I know the reality is I’ve got to get through the zone and get hitters in more of a swing mode.”

With Ferguson on the IL, Moll will get loads of possibilities vs. LHH.

He has a really particular plan to be extra constant this 12 months, sharing a five-minute reply when requested about that subject.

Connor Phillips

How he responded to the adversity he confronted — getting moved to Rookie Ball, and a Thoracic Outlet Syndrome scare — is among the finest tales on your entire crew.

Last September, he turned one of many Reds’ most vital pitchers down the stretch. The stuff is there, and his upside is as excessive as anybody within the bullpen’s.

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