Photo: Redleg Nation Staff
Things were going quite well for Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft over the first two innings of the day after he racked up five strikeouts while allowing just one hit. But in the 3rd inning he gave up a solo homer to lead off the frame and then loaded the bases with one out. While facing James Outman, Ashcraft fired a slider in the dirt and seemed to injure his leg. After the pitch he walked towards the back of the mound as the Reds trainer and manager David Bell walked to the mound. The conversation was short as Bell signaled that he was making a pitching change. Ashcraft then walked to the dugout with the trainer with what appeared to be a slight limp.
After exiting the game, Graham Ashcraft remained in the dugout to continue watching the game as reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Bobby Nightengale. After the half-inning was over, Ashcraft was seen leaving the stadium, walking off through the outfield with what appeared to be some of the training staff. He would tell Charlie Goldsmith shortly after that it was just a “bad muscle cramp” and that it was “nothing”.
“It’s nothing” is good news. Cincinnati’s rotation only has three guys in it as of today. After Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft there is a competition for the 4th and 5th spots. When there’s a competition it’s usually because there aren’t ideal options. If the Reds were going to need to fill a third spot – even in the short term – with someone from that group, it wasn’t likely to be ideal at all.
Joey Votto’s return to the lineup
In his first game of spring training in 2023, Joey Votto picked up two plate appearances. Coming back from shoulder surgery in the second half of 2022, Votto got back in the batters box against Dustin May this afternoon and went 0-2. He struck out in his first plate appearance and then grounded out to third base in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
