After battling injuries in 2023, both Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft of the Cincinnati Reds will be healthy and ready for spring training, per reports.
From Reds' Insider Charlie Goldsmith:
Some notes from Nick Krall.
The Reds remain looking to improve the club through free agency and trade markets. Noelvi Marte has a hamstring strain.
Lodolo and Ashcraft are fully on track for spring training.
That's big news for a Reds team that was decimated by pitching injuries this past season and finished 82-80.
Armed with some of the best young position player talent in the entire league, the Reds need their pitching to match, and the health of these two arms could go a long way.
Lodolo dealt with issues in his tibia all season long and didn't pitch after May 6th.
One of the best arms in the system, he went 2-1 with a 6.29 ERA in 34.1 innings. He's only made seven starts in 2023. He made his debut in the 2022 season, throwing 103.1 innings and striking out 131 batters.
The 25-year-old Ashcraft finished the year at 7-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 26 games. He struck out 111 batters in 145.2 innings. He had a 2.58 ERA over his final 12 starts and was helping the Reds push for their first playoff berth since 2020, but they fell just short. He had surgery on his toe at the conclusion of the season.
In addition to this news, the Reds also signed pitchers Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagan to help the staff.
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