The Reds’ latest pitching move says a lot about where the organization stands right now.
Ahead of Monday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati brought up Zach McCambley as the 27th man, then made a separate shuffle that included designating Ron Marinaccio for assignment and selecting the contract of Kent Emanuel. That’s the name that jumps out - not because he’s a headline arm, but because he’s the one the Reds are turning to.
Emanuel, 34, has spent most of the 2026 season in the Atlantic League. He’s appeared in just one game for the Reds’ organization, and it came last week with Triple-A Louisville, where he threw six innings, allowed one run and two hits, and struck out eight. For a club trying to piece together a doubleheader, that was enough to earn him another look.
A third-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2013 out of North Carolina, Emanuel has bounced around the league and has been with the Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Miami Marlins. He made his MLB debut in 2021.
What makes this move stand out is the state of Cincinnati’s pitching depth. Hunter Greene went on the 60-day IL last week after Tommy John surgery, Brandon Williamson is still working back from a shoulder issue on a rehab assignment, and Julian Aguiar, Brandon Leibrandt, and José Franco are all on the seven-day IL at Triple-A. The Reds simply do not have much impact pitching sitting around.
Williamson pitched in a rehab appearance on Sunday, which ruled him out for Monday in Cincinnati. Chase Petty had been a possible option, but he’s been used mostly as a reliever in the majors this season. Kevin Abel, Jose Acuña, and Sam Benschoter were other names who could have gotten the nod, but Emanuel brings at least some experience that the others don’t.
He’s logged big-league time with Houston in 2021 and Miami in 2024, and his career line reads 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA and 25 strikeouts. If he can cover five or six innings and limit the damage, that’s about all Terry Francona can ask for in Game 1.
The bigger picture is hard to ignore. The Reds were supposed to be in the contender conversation this season, but instead they’re sitting in the NL Central basement and have less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs. That’s the kind of roster reality that puts pressure on Nick Krall and the front office, and this latest call-up only throws it into sharper focus.
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