Cincinnati Reds promote outfield prospects Mike Siani, Rece Hinds in minor leagues

With staggered endings to minor league seasons, A-ball ended Sunday, Double-A ends next weekend and Triple-A runs through the end of September, the Cincinnati Reds promoted some prospects to continue their seasons.

Center fielder Michael Siani, a fourth-round pick in 2018, was promoted to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. Rated as the organization’s best defensive outfielder by Baseball America, Siani hit .252 with 12 homers, 19 doubles, seven triples and 49 RBI in 121 games at Double-A while scoring 76 runs.

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The 23-year-old Siani, a left-handed hitter, had a .351 on-base percentage in Double-A with 49 stolen bases in 61 attempts. He went 0-for-4 in his debut at Louisville on Tuesday.

Outfielder Rece Hinds was one of four players promoted from High-A Dayton to Double-A Chattanooga. Hinds, arguably the best power hitter in the organization, went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and two strikeouts in his Double-A debut Tuesday.

Hinds, who turned 22 earlier this month, missed nearly two months because of a left hamate fracture, but the biggest key for the 2019 second-round pick is cutting down on his strikeouts. Hinds hit .235 in 67 games at High-A with 10 homers, nine doubles, four triples, 26 RBI and 33 runs. He struck out 107 times in 274 plate appearances.

The other prospects promoted to Double-A were starting pitcher Sam Benschoter, reliever Vincent Timpanelli and infielder Steven Leyton. The 24-year-old Benschoter is 4-4 with a 4.08 ERA between Single-A and High-A this year while striking out 103 and walking 23 in 68 ⅓ innings.

Reds acquire Mason native Nick Northcut to complete Tommy Pham trade

The Reds acquired infielder Nick Northcut, a Mason, Ohio native, as the player to be named later from the Boston Red Sox in the Tommy Pham trade.

Northcut, an 11th-round pick in 2018 out of high school, hit .219 in 103 games between High-A and Double-A in the Red Sox's farm system this year. He totaled 30 homers, 18 doubles, 75 RBI and 55 runs while striking out 151 times in 428 plate appearances.

The 23-year-old Northcut has experience at both corner infield positions. Promoted to Double-A at the end of July, he had a .208 batting average and .245 on-base percentage with four homers, five doubles and 17 RBI in 26 games at his newest level.

Pham, a free agent at the end of the season, has a .737 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) with the Red Sox compared to a .697 OPS when he was with the Reds.

Reds roster moves: Justin Dunn activated from IL, T.J. Zeuch released

Justin Dunn was activated from the COVID-related injured list Wednesday after he left his last start with an illness, and he’s expected to make his scheduled start Friday in St. Louis.

To make room for Dunn on the roster, the Reds optioned Raynel Espinal to Triple-A and released T.J. Zeuch.

Assuming Dunn remains on schedule after rejoining the team, Hunter Greene is expected to start one of the games in Saturday’s doubleheader. Greene hasn’t pitched in the Majors since Aug. 1, and he made three rehab starts.

Zeuch, a Mason native, allowed 24 hits and 18 runs in 10 ⅔ innings (15.19 ERA) in his three big-league starts. He had been on the 15-day injured list with back soreness.

The Reds have used an MLB-leading 65 players this season, four shy of tying the MLB record, and a club-record 38 pitchers have appeared in at least one game.

Reds injury updates: Graham Ashcraft begins rehab assignment, Connor Overton progressing

Graham Ashcraft, recovering from right biceps soreness, was scheduled to begin his rehab assignment Wednesday at Double-A Chattanooga. He was expected to throw 45-50 pitches and then he will likely make another rehab start Monday for Triple-A Louisville.

Ashcraft initially hoped to return to the Reds’ rotation after one rehab start, but the Reds are planning to build his pitch count further before he returns.

“We just talked about it more,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “I’m anxious to get him back, but it probably makes more sense to have him pitch one more time.”

Connor Overton, who had been pitching at the Reds’ spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, made his first rehab start for Louisville on Tuesday. He allowed two hits and three unearned runs in 2 ⅔ innings with two walks and four strikeouts in 61 pitches.

He’s expected to make another rehab start Sunday.

“For now, we’re going to keep building him up as a starter,” Bell said. “The innings are going to be great to have whether he is a starter or a reliever.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds top prospects: Michael Siani, Rece Hinds promoted