Lodolo, Ashcraft head list of 6 Reds NRIs

January 20th, 2022

CINCINNATI -- Six Reds Minor Leaguers on Wednesday were invited to the club’s big league Spring Training camp as non-roster players. The group is highlighted by two top 10 prospects in the organization: left-handed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo and right-handed starter Graham Ashcraft.

Also receiving camp invites were right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel, left-handed pitcher Phillip Diehl and catchers Chris Okey and Chuckie Robinson.

The Reds currently have 19 non-roster players expected at 2022 Spring Training.

Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 31 prospect in baseball overall, the 23-year-old Lodolo was Cincinnati’s first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. He was in camp in '20 and appeared in four big league spring games last year.

In 13 games combined with Triple-A Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga last season, Lodolo was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. But he dealt with injuries during the year -- including a blister on his pitching hand and a left shoulder strain that put him on the injured list late in the season. Lodolo was limited to three starts at Louisville.

Ashcraft, who turns 24 on Feb. 11, is ranked as the Reds’ No. 6 prospect after he went 11-4 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 22 starts combined with Chattanooga and High-A Dayton. He was named by MLB Pipeline as the Reds’ pitching prospect of the year.