CINCINNATI -- Much like Jesse Winker a week ago, the Reds gave outfield prospect and former first-round Draft pick Phillip Ervin his first big league callup on Friday. Ervin arrived from Triple-A Louisville after reliever Tony Cingrani was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.
But also like Winker, Ervin's stay could be finite. His roster spot could be needed when catcher Devin Mesoraco is ready to be activated from the DL next week. That didn't matter to Ervin.
"I'm just here until they tell I'm not anymore. I'm coming here to enjoy it and have fun with it," said Ervin, the Reds' No. 20 ranked prospect by MLBPipeline.com.
The 27th overall selection in the 2013 Draft, Ervin was batting .286/.352/.531 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games for Louisville.
Reds manager Bryan Price considered the experience that the 24-year-old Ervin would get invaluable. He's shown improvement in the early portion of the season by shortening his swing and becoming more consistent.
"It's along the lines of what we did with Jesse Winker. It's an opportunity to kind of break the ice a little bit and allow Phil to come up and get acclimated to the big leagues, get back together with the guys that he spent Spring Training with," Price said. "It will be more of a bench role. It's going to be an opportunity to come in there and maybe come off the bench and pinch-hit or maybe get involved with a double switch."
Winker spent two days in the big leagues before he was returned to Louisville on Sunday. But he notched a two-run pinch-hit double for the game-winner over the Brewers last Saturday.
"I was very happy for Winker to get his first hit. It motivated me," Ervin said.
Ervin was thrilled when given the news from Louisville manager Delino DeShields that he was going to the big leagues. Ervin's mother and younger brother were headed to Cincinnati to see his debut, but his father had to remain home because he had to work.
"I was kind of in shock and didn't really know how to act," Ervin said. "It was like, 'Is this really happening now?' It's something I've waited for all of my life. It's very exciting for me. There is so much emotion built up for this."
Injury report
• Cingrani walked around the clubhouse with a stimulation machine attached to his oblique. Price hoped the lefty might be ready when his DL stint was up but said Cingrani would get at least one rehab assignment game before he could be activated.
• Starting pitcher Rookie Davis (bruised right forearm) threw a side bullpen session on Friday.
"He looked really good. We'll see how he comes out of it," Price said.
• Reliever Nefi Ogando (sore right thumb) threw 30 pitches in the bullpen on Thursday in Goodyear, Ariz.