PHILADELPHIA -- Asher Wojciechowski was certainly pleased about getting a chance to make a big league start for the Reds, who announced he would pitch on Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Making the opportunity a little more sweeter for Wojciechowski was that his career began in Toronto's organization.
Wojciechowski was a first-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2010 Draft but traded to the Astros as part of a nine-player deal in 2012.
"It's just kind of funny how things work out, after just what I've been through this year and me making my first start against the team that drafted me seven years ago," Wojciechowski said on Saturday. "I'm looking forward to it, and I'm real excited about it."
Wojciechowski was released after Spring Training by the D-backs and spent three weeks at home before being signed by the Reds on April 21 to pitch at Triple-A Louisville. The 28-year-old was 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five starts for Louisville.
On May 20, the Reds summoned Wojciechowski to the Major Leagues when they needed bullpen depth. Later that day, he was needed and worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings, earning his first big league win vs. the Rockies.
Reds manager Bryan Price felt Wojciechowski was best suited to replace the injured Amir Garrett and take his turn in the rotation.
"I thought he kind of earned it by his performance at Triple-A," Price said. "It made what seemed to be a reasonable decision an easy decision by going and pitching so well against Colorado. However, I think he's earned that right to get the opportunity to start. He's had a real interesting road to get here, and I think he's earned it through performance. That was the best way to get an opportunity."
Wojciechowski didn't pitch again for the Reds until getting into Friday's 5-2 win over the Phillies. Entering in the ninth inning with a chance to finish Tim Adleman's game after he worked eight scoreless, the right-hander gave up two runs (one earned) on a pair of one-out doubles with a walk.
"It had been six days since I had thrown. I was just trying to do everything I could to stay prepared," Wojciechowski said. "The phone rang in the bullpen last night, and they told me I was in. I got ready. It didn't go as well as I hoped, but I'm looking forward to my next outing."
It's possible that this will be Wojciechowski's lone chance to start for Garrett, who is expected back from right hip inflammation on June 3 after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Thursday.
"That one is hard to say. We're still defining our best rotation," Price said. "At this point in time, it looks like it could be a single start. But you know, things change in this business especially when you have a rotation that's loosely tied together at this point."
Worth noting
• The reports were positive after lefty reliever Tony Cingrani (right oblique) pitched vs. hitters in a simulated game at Class A Dayton on Friday. A rehab assignment appears to be the next step.
"Everything went great. He came out of it saying he felt like normal," Price said. "He might make an appearance in Dayton before Louisville returns home, or we may wait for Louisville to return before he makes a small collection of appearances."