The Cincinnati Reds are gearing up for an intriguing bullpen battle, especially with the return of Emilio Pagán. Even before Pagán rejoined, the Reds were stacked with late-inning options.
Tony Santillan is poised as a potential closer, and Pagán himself has high praise for Connor Phillips as a future shutdown reliever. This sets the stage for some fierce competition at the back end of the bullpen.
However, when it comes to long relief, the picture is less clear.
Currently, the Reds' roster lacks a definitive long relief pitcher. While FanGraphs lists Sam Moll in this role, he's more of a lefty specialist, never averaging more than an inning per game in his major league career. Enter Lyon Richardson, a non-roster invitee who might just be the perfect fit for this gap.
Richardson's journey in the majors has been a winding one. Over three seasons, he’s appeared in 39 games.
The 2025 season saw the Reds transition him from a starter to a reliever, a move that paid dividends as he improved his walk rate and upped his strikeouts both in Triple-A and the majors. His sinker-changeup combo has been particularly effective at inducing ground balls.
Making the Opening Day roster would be a significant milestone for Richardson. After being designated for assignment in January to make room for Dane Myers, he was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville.
Now, he faces the challenge of reclaiming a 40-man roster spot, contending with relievers like Moll, Zach Maxwell, and Luis Mey. But with his resilience and skill set, Richardson is well-equipped for the challenge.
At 26, Richardson's been striving to break into the majors for nearly a decade since being drafted as a second-round pick out of high school. With his ability to handle multiple innings and maintain composure in high-pressure situations-like his stint as the 27th man at the Speedway Classic-Richardson is positioned to seize the opportunity in 2026. The Reds' bullpen dynamics could provide the perfect opening for him to shine.