Graham Ashcraft

Douglas Graham Ashcraft (born February 11, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Graham Ashcraft
Ashcraft with the Louisville Bats in 2022
Cincinnati Reds – No. 51
Pitcher
Born: (1998-02-11) February 11, 1998
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 22, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record12–15
Earned run average4.81
Strikeouts182
Teams

Early life and amateur career

Ashcraft grew up in Gurley, Alabama, and attended Huntsville High School. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but opted not to sign with the team.[1]

Ashcraft enrolled at Mississippi State University and began his college baseball career with the Mississippi State Bulldogs. As a freshman he went 2–0 with a 5.63 ERA and 25 strikeouts in ten appearances.[2] Following the season Ashcraft transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to play for the UAB Blazers.[3] After sitting out one season due to NCAA transfer rules, Ashcraft went 2–5 with a 5.62 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 53 innings over 17 pitching appearances.[4]

Professional career

The Cincinnati Reds selected Ashcraft in the sixth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft,[5] making Ashcraft the highest-selected player in the MLB draft from UAB.[6] After signing with Cincinnati, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Greeneville Reds.[7] Ashcraft did not play in 2020 following the cancelation of the minor league season due to COVID-19. He was assigned to the High-A Dayton Dragons, where he went 4–1 with a 2.33 ERA and 55 strikeouts before being promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.[8] Ashcraft began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.[9]

Ashcraft was promoted to the Reds' major league roster on May 20, 2022.[10] He made his MLB debut on May 22, tossing 4.1 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays and allowing two earned runs. On May 23, he was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A Louisville.[11] On May 27, Ashcraft had his contract selected back to the active roster.[12] He finished the season with a 5-6 record and a 4.89 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 19 starts.[13]

In 2023, Ashcraft made 26 starts for Cincinnati, logging a 7–9 record and 4.76 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 145+2⁄3 innings pitched.[14] On September 2, 2023, Ashcraft was placed on the injured list with a stress reaction in his right big toe.[15] On September 16, it was announced that Ashcraft would undergo season–ending surgery to repair the toe.[16]

References
  1. Oliveto, Hannah (June 11, 2016). "Huntsville Panthers Graham Ashcraft drafted by Dodgers". rocketcitynow.com.
  2. "MSU's Ashcraft on the mend". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. August 26, 2017.
  3. Lee, Andy (July 25, 2018). "Ashcraft, Vansau to transfer from MSU baseball program". WTVA.com.
  4. Stephenson, Creg (June 4, 2019). "UAB pitcher Graham Ashcraft selected in 6th round of MLB draft". AL.com.
  5. "Huntsville's Graham Ashcraft heading to the MLB". June 6, 2019.
  6. Stephenson, Creg (June 4, 2019). "UAB pitcher Graham Ashcraft selected in 6th round of MLB draft". AL.com. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  7. "Graham Ashcraft Develops A New Pitch". Baseball America. February 25, 2021.
  8. "Graham Ashcraft Named Double-A South Player of the Week".
  9. "Graham Ashcraft, among top RHP prospects, added to Reds' Taxi Squad". Cincinnati Enquirer. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  10. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Promoted to big leagues". CBS Sports. RotoWire. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  11. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Returned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  12. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Contract selected again". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  13. Sheldon, Mark (March 7, 2023). "Ashcraft checking off goals each start". MLB.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  14. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Yields two runs in no-decision". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Officially on injured list". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  16. "Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Will undergo season-ending surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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