The Reds announced three roster changes including the selection of Randy Wynne‘s contract from Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati also called Righty Levi Stoudt by Triple-A, and Stoudt will start today against the Braves. To free up space in the squad, the Reds appointed right-handers Silvino Bracho for the mission.
Wynne will make his major league debut with his first appearance, and that personal milestone could come as soon as Stoudt is replaced. Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that Stoudt has only recently returned from a rib cage injury and is not yet fully prepared for the workload of a proper starter, so Stoudt may not last long no matter how he fares against the Atlanta lineup. Wynne was a swingman for most of his pro career and the Reds could use something of a piggyback system between Stoudt and Wynne today.
Wynne is an undrafted right-hander who played portions of independent baseball during the 2016-19 season before eventually joining the Reds in 2019. He remained loyal to the organization after the canceled 2020 minor league season, playing in Double-A in 2021 and then in Triple-A each of the last two years. Wynne doesn’t record many strikeouts or grounders, relying on soft contact and an impressive walk speed to keep batters under control. Over 164 1/3 innings at Triple-A, Wynne, 30, has a 4.82 ERA over 164 1/3 innings and started 29 of 38 games.
Stoudt and Wynne could each get a glimpse of rotation as the Reds try to deal with multiple pitching injuries. Hunter Greene, Nick LodoloAnd Ben Lively are all offside, and while Graham Ashcraft activated yesterday from 15-day IL, the good news of his return was marred by Lively being put on the injured list with chest pain. Lively was set to start tonight’s game, which is why Cincinnati is banking on its latest Stoudt replacement plan.
This is the second time the Reds have sacked Bracho from the squad this season as he was appointed back in May and then dropped from the squad altogether. Bracho’s contract was reselected just days ago, and during his two stints in Cincinnati he posted a 3.68 ERA in 7 1/3 innings of relief with an equal number (six) strikeouts and walks. Bracho already missed out on the opportunity to pick free agency for the minor leagues when he was last dropped from the Reds’ 40-man roster, but provided he fulfills the DFA waivers again, he still has the right to refuse another direct order and test the open market.
Bracho appeared in portions of seven MLB seasons and made his debut with the Diamondbacks in 2015. After four seasons of ups and downs, he underwent surgery from Tommy John that left him sidelined for virtually the entire 2019–20 season save for one inning of a game with Arizona in 2020. Bracho then played with the Giants, Red Sox and Braves before landing in Cincinnati on a minor league contract last winter, though the right-hander rallied just 4-1 in the major leagues in 2021-22/3 innings with Atlanta last season.