CINCINNATI -- There could be good news for the Reds bullpen on the horizon if two key setup relievers continue with their rehab progression.
Tony Santillan (left oblique) tossed a scoreless inning on Friday for Triple-A Louisville. He was effective, striking out two and tossing an efficient 13 pitches (nine strikes) while retiring the side in order in the seventh inning of the Bats’ 9-1 home win over Toledo.
"He threw a lot of strikes," manager Terry Francona said. "Velo, I think he was 91, 93. It's his first time, and I think as you see him get more comfortable, you'll see him get more aggressive, like in his delivery.”
Francona was not overly concerned about the low-90s velocity from a pitcher who normally sits mid-to-high 90s.
“Nice to know that when you let it go, nothing's going to hurt,” Francona said.
Francona said the right-handed Santillan will be the opener Sunday for Louisville against Toledo. Brandon Williamson -- also on rehab -- will follow Santillan. He is expected to throw about 70 pitches.
Williamson has been on the 60-day IL since May 6 (after being placed on the 15-day IL on April 30), while Santillan has been on the 15-day IL since June 26. Williamson is 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in three rehab starts.
Then there’s Graham Ashcraft, on the 60-day IL with a right elbow UCL sprain since May 29.
Ashcraft threw 18 pitches of live batting practice to TJ Friedl and Héctor Rodríguez before Saturday’s game at Great American Ball Park. Rodríguez was the only live swinging, grounding to second base on the 17th offering, and grounding another sharp ball to the right side on the final pitch.
Francona says Ashcraft has been making good progress since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection to settle it down.
"He's been working,” Francona said. “I mean, you're out in Arizona. Man, you feel like you're all alone there. But Eric [Gonzalez, Reds' director of rehab and physical therapy] does a really good job out there with those guys. But this is exciting to see him starting to come back, and we'll see where it goes from today. ... We'll see how that goes."