What are the Cincinnati Reds’projections in 2027 for right-hander Tony Santillan?
They expect to have five weeks of the reliever at full strength down the stretch to help evaluate his fit into the plans
as he heads into his second winter of arbitration eligibility.
Santillan, a dominant high-leverage guy for the 2025 playoff bullpen who has struggled this season, returns from an eight-week oblique injury when the Reds open a three-game series in Phoenix this weekend.
He pitched his third of three one-inning scoreless outings for Triple-A Louisville this week and will be on a third day’s rest when he’s activated for the Diamondbacks opener. He struck out five and even more importantly walked none in those three innings.
Santillan, who had a 2.44 ERA in 80 games during the 2025 playoff season, has a 5.23 ERA, 14 walks and a career-high nine home runs allowed in 34 games this season.
The Reds, who vow to retool to try to bounce back and contend next season, are paying Santillan $1.8 million this season.
Graham Ashcraft, another key late-inning member of the Reds' successful bullpen in 2025 before missing most of this season with an elbow injury, is to throw one more live-batting-practice/simulation this week before starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Louisville next week.
That could put him on track for a return from the IL sometime during the next homestand (Aug. 31-Sept. 6), barring setback.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Two possibly key players in Reds' 2027 plans near return from injury
