Graham Ashcraft's Move to the Bullpen Stabilizes Reds Pitching

The Reds stretched him in 2025 spring training as a starter due to uncertainty surrounding Rhett Lowder and Andrew Abbott. He competed with Carson Spiers for the fifth starter in the Reds’ rotation until the club informed him that Spiers would fill in until Abbott was ready on March 20, a week before the season opened.

If he opposed the move, his enthusiastic reaction betrayed the opposition.

“I feel like my personality type will fit it pretty well. I’m excited for it,” Ashcraft said. “I’ll roll with the punches, get going and see what happens. I’ve been talking to the guys and getting some good info from guys who have been starters and transitioned to the bullpen or like (Nick) Martinez, who has been a starter and reliever. I have to figure out what works for me. I relieved three or four times in college. The adrenaline rush is awesome. I’m excited to experience that side of it.”

The early results have been very positive, and Ashcraft is smiling daily in the Reds’ clubhouse.

To date, Ashcraft has seven appearances totaling 8.2 innings and has yet to allow a run. He has four official holds, including a two-inning stint in Nick Lodolo’s 1-0 win over San Francisco. Ashcraft covered two more innings in a win over Pittsburgh three days later.

“It has been good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He should be confident, he’s throwing really well. Guys give up runs but I’m pretty confident that he likes the role. He’s growing into us. It really helps us.”

The ability to eat more innings in the middle of the game allows Francona more flexibility. He has been saving an arm by going that extra inning.