It’s been a busy day so far for the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse. This morning the club announced two roster cuts, sending catcher Will Banfield and left-handed pitcher Wade Miley to minor league camp. Shortly after that Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that right-handed closer Alexis Diaz was going to begin the 2025 season on the injured list with hamstring inflammation.

With Diaz beginning the season on the injured list that settles the bullpen unless the Reds make a move before the start of the season. Ian Gibaut, who is not currently on the 40-man roster, will make the team unless there’s another acquisition on the horizon that makes the team change their mind. Graham Ashcraft, who made a later role change in spring training from potentially vying for the 5th starters spot to a role in the bullpen, will round out the relief crew to start the year – again, as long as there’s no other acquisition that causes the team to change their mind.

In 2024, Ian Gibaut spent most of his time on the injured list. He only pitched in two games for the Reds. The year before he threw 75.2 innings for the Reds and had a 3.33 ERA as he had the best season of his career. If Gibaut does indeed make the team, he will have to be added to the 40-man roster. He is also out of options, so if the team does decide to add him they will not be able to send him to the minor leagues without first placing him on waivers. This spring has seen Gibaut pitch in 10 games with Cincinnati. He allowed five runs (4.50 ERA) in 10.0 innings while walking three batters and striking out 10.

Graham Ashcraft has had some ups-and-downs this spring. He only pitched in six games. Four of those games went well, including his most recent outing when he threw 3.0 hitless innings. But in the other two games he allowed eight earned runs in just 5.1 combined innings and allowed 11 hits and had five walks.

With Alexis Diaz set to begin the season on the injured list, who will close the game isn’t exactly known. It could be a closer by committee kind of thing until Diaz returns or someone separates themselves. We’ll all find that one out together.

The Cincinnati Reds will have a new closer on Opening Day. While Reds fans don’t yet know who will get the ball in the ninth inning, we now know that it won’t be Alexis Díaz. The Reds’ right-hander will begin the 2025 season on the IL with a hamstring injury.

Díaz suffered the injury earlier in spring during fielding practice and missed a number of games at the outset of the Cactus League season. Upon his return to the mound, Díaz looked rather shaky and had trouble locating the strike zone. In just 3 ⅓ innings pitched this spring, Díaz owns a 13.50 ERA with five walks and only one strikeout.

Terry Francona and the Reds coaching staff decided that it would be best for Díaz to open the season on the IL and continue to get his legs under him. It’s not yet known if Díaz will travel with the team to Cincinnati this week or if he’ll stay behind with Andrew Abbott and rehab in Arizona.

Alexis Diaz hitting IL shakes up Reds Opening Day bullpen in major way

Díaz’s absence from the Reds Opening Day roster paves the way for Ian Gibaut to join the Cincinnati bullpen. Gibaut spent a prolonged period of time on the IL himself last season, but was able to return and made two appearances last September. The Reds decided to DFA Gibaut this past winter, but re-signed him to a minor-league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training.