Wednesday, February 05

DAYTON, Ohio – The Reds will head into Spring Training soon with rotation depth that already runs eight, and potentially nine or 10, starting pitchers deep. Not discouraged, prospect and non-roster invite Chase Petty plans on working his way into that mix to be an option at some point in 2025.

"Not trying to think too far ahead about it, but that is what’s driving me," Petty said last month during a Reds Caravan stop. "That’s what’s making me compete to my best ability every single day. If my name is called, I want to make sure that I am ready and that I am ready to stay."

The right-handed Petty, who turns 22 on April 4, ended 2024 ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati's No. 8 prospect. Team rankings for 2025 are coming in March.

Petty went 10-5 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 26 starts with Double-A Chattanooga last season. He allowed 116 hits and 56 walks while striking out 123 in 127 innings. In a positive sign of his development, he worked seven innings in four of his final five starts before a late-season promotion to Triple-A Louisville. 

During the 2023 season, Petty was on a pitch and innings limit with High-A Dayton because he had finished the previous year with a right elbow strain. He began '23 in extended spring camp and after getting to the Dragons, none of his starts exceeded four innings.

"Huge boost," Petty said of showing more endurance last season. "Obviously, I’ve been wanting to do that since I got into pro ball. But being on the limit and having limitations happens to every young guy. It’s kind of having that freedom last year and making the most of it and continuing to do that this year."

In two starts for Louisville, Petty posted a 1.80 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Overall for the season, he largely maintained his strikeout rate (8.5 per nine innings) from 2023 (8.7). 

His fastball averaged just over 96 mph in 2024 and his mid-80s slider elicited a 39 percent miss rate. According to this MLB Pipeline article, Petty just missed being included in the 2025 Top 100 overall rankings.

Petty's overall performance in 2024 sent him into winter feeling good.

"I didn’t start off the way I planned. I struggled a little bit. But really cleaned up by the end of year, really finished off strong," Petty said. "I did exactly what I wanted to in Triple-A. Hopefully I am able to start off strong this year and get the call early."

Petty was acquired from the Twins in a trade for starting pitcher Sonny Gray on March 13, 2022.

Hunter Greene, Brady Singer, Nick Martinez, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, No. 2 prospect Rhett Lowder, Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers are all currently in the mix for the five rotation spots in camp. Veteran Wade Miley, who signed a Minor League contract last week to return to the club he pitched for in 2020-21, is expected to be ready in May after recovering from left elbow surgery. Top prospect Chase Burns could also factor into the equation by the end of the season. 

Cincinnati liked its rotation depth going into last spring before injuries hit the group throughout the 2024 season. If the big league rotation depth is again tested by injuries in 2025, Petty could potentially get a chance to make his debut.

There are several new players in Reds uniforms with new numbers heading into Spring Training and a few returning players who have changed numbers. Here is the rundown:

• Manager Terry Francona is going to wear No. 77 (although you'll likely rarely see him wearing it. Francona is known to prefer wearing a pullover top).
• Infielder Gavin Lux will wear No. 2.
• Outfielder Austin Hays will wear No. 12.
• Lefty reliever Taylor Rogers will wear No. 32.
• Catcher Jose Trevino was assigned No. 35.
• Starting pitcher Brady Singer asked for and received No. 51.
• That meant starter Graham Ashcraft switched from 51 to No. 23.
• Starting pitcher Rhett Lowder switched from 81 to No. 25.
• Outfielder Rece Hinds switched from 77 to No. 57.
• Outfielder Blake Dunn went from 76 to No. 59. 

Among the veteran non-roster invites, Miley is getting the No. 22 he wore for the Reds from 2020-21 and reliever Alex Young has reclaimed the No. 48 he wore in 2023-24. Another reliever, Bryan Shaw, was assigned No. 47.

"First pro season was honestly not what I expected. It was a grind, what I’d call it. But it was fun. You relive those moments and say, ‘Wow, that was an unbelievable time of my life.’ It was just a great season. I’m excited for the next one." – shortstop and No. 9 prospect Sammy Stafura, on his first pro season at Single-A Daytona

• Petty is one of three prospects who could earn the Reds an extra 2025 Draft pick. Find out how. 

• An Angels pitcher could break former Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman's velocity record set in 2010. 

• The one time Negro League star and Hall of Famer Josh Gibson graced a magazine cover.

Don't forget that the Reds will play the Braves in a one-of-kind setting this season in the first Speedway Classic on Aug. 2. The game will be played in Tennessee at the Bristol Motor Speedway, which has had a racing capacity of approximately 146,000 and could challenge MLB attendance records. 

Tickets are on sale now.

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