Pitcher Jon Moscot looked ready to start last year for the Cincinnati Reds. He drew three June starts before a freak injury sidelined him for the rest of the 2015 season.
The 24-year-old righty will have the chance to pick up where he left off. Moscot was tapped to start the Reds’ first spring training game of 2016.
Moscot made two starts last year in Great American Ball Park. He surrendered two home runs and gave up six earned runs in 11 innings. The third start Moscot made resulted in a season-ending injury to his non-throwing shoulder when he dived to try to tag out a runner at second base.
In the minors, Moscot posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.273 WHIP across 395 innings in four seasons. He has a 3.77 ERA in 12 starts in Triple-A. Nine of those Triple-A starts came last year. In those starts, Moscot posted a 3.15 ERA in 54.1 innings.
Moscot probably won’t be a long-term answer for the Reds’ rotation. He should be good enough to allow the Reds’ top pitching prospects to develop in the minors for one final year.
Moscot lacks the stuff that will wow. Hitters will hit him. He had just a 5.6 K/9 rate at Triple-A last year. If Moscot makes the Reds’ rotation out of spring training, his command will determine how long he stays there.
Moscot needs a strong enough showing this spring to replace John Lamb as the fifth starter in the Reds’ opening day rotation. Lamb may not be ready to start the season with the Reds due to recovery from back surgery. Both Moscot and Lamb are likely to find themselves either in the bullpen or the minors once Homer Bailey returns from Tommy John surgery.
Moscot also needs to hold the Reds’ top prospects at bay in order to make the rotation out of spring training and be the first minor league option to spot start. Robert Stephenson, Amir Garrett and Cody Reed all are approaching their big league arrival dates. The Reds will need Moscot to prove he belongs until those three are ready to help the Reds try to regain their winning ways in 2017.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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