Amir Garrett is ready right now to join the Cincinnati Reds. The only question is whether or not the Reds are ready to start the service time clock for the promising left-handed starter.
The 24-year-old Garrett is shaping up to be the next future pitching star for the Reds in a hurry.
Garrett cruised through Double-A this year with a 1.75 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 77 innings. He struggled with control in his first start in Triple-A last week but bounced back Monday night.
Garrett didn’t start the game Monday night, but he sure did finish it. He entered the action in the second inning and spun shutout ball for seven innings. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked two batters.
The outing for Garrett marked an improvement from his first Triple-A start in which he only surrendered one hit but walked six and gave up three runs in 5.2 innings. His 97-pitch performance Monday lowered his ERA to 2.13 in 12.2 Triple-A innings.
Garrett relieved Homer Bailey in his effort Monday. Bailey made his fist minor league rehab appearance since April 25. He threw 25 pitches including two home run balls in an inning of work.
Bailey’s return might have headlined the preview for last night’s game, but Garrett’s effort stole the show. Now, the question is how long do the Reds let Garrett toil in the minors.
Garrett threw 140 innings last year. His combined 89.2 innings so far this year mark about half of the likely number he’ll be allowed to pitch in 2016.
Garrett is showing the same kind of aptitude that another left-handed rising rotation star in Cody Reed has shown the Reds. The Reds are still waiting for their third top rotation prospect Robert Stephenson to put more together before he permanently joins the Reds.
But when this power trio finally arrives on the scene for good, the fortunes of a seemingly hopeless Reds’ team will change for the better in a hurry.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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