The Reds made a quiet but deliberate bullpen move Today, optioning right-hander Jose Franco to Triple-A Louisville and promoting Kyle Nicolas ahead of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. The decision by the Reds reflects less about what Franco did wrong and more about what Cincinnati needs heading into a stretch where fresh arms carry real value.
Who is Kyle Nicolas
Nicolas, 27, arrived in Cincinnati this spring as part of a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates that sent prospect Tyler Callihan to Pittsburgh. He has not had much time to make his case at the Triple-A level, but the early returns have been encouraging. In 4 2/3 innings with Louisville this season, he has allowed just one run while striking out seven and walking two, a line that suggests the stuff is moving in the right direction.
Over three seasons and 86 games with Pittsburgh, Nicolas posted a 4.68 ERA. The numbers are not overwhelming, but the profile is one that appeals to teams looking for back-end bullpen options. He throws hard, works with multiple pitches and fits the kind of high-leverage reliever role Cincinnati has been trying to fill with greater consistency.
Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall described Nicolas as a power arm the organization felt it had to add, both for the immediate need and with an eye toward the future. The front office sees him as someone capable of pitching meaningful innings late in games, not simply a roster placeholder.
Why Franco is not being penalized
The decision to send Franco down was driven by availability as much as anything else. He threw two innings on Friday and was not going to be an option for Saturday’s game regardless of the roster situation. Keeping him on the active roster while unavailable made little sense when Nicolas was ready and waiting in Louisville.
Manager Terry Francona was direct in crediting Franco for what he brought during his time with the club. Franco surrendered two earned runs on seven hits across 5 2/3 innings this season, serviceable numbers for a young arm still finding his footing at the major league level. His fastball sits at 95 mph and has touched 98, and he complements it with a slider and changeup that give hitters different looks. That combination gives the Reds reason to believe Franco will be back on the active roster before the season is done.
What Nicolas needs to do
The promotion puts Nicolas in a position to prove he belongs at this level. The Angels series gives him an opportunity to pitch in a real big league setting with something to show for it. If he can replicate the command and stuff he displayed in Louisville, he strengthens the Reds’ argument that the Callihan trade was a sound investment.
Reds’ bullpen has been a pressure point throughout the early season. Adding a right-hander with a power profile does not solve every problem, but it gives Francona one more lever to pull in games that come down to late innings. For a team still working out the depth of its pitching staff, that flexibility matters more than the individual numbers Nicolas carries into his first appearance.
The Reds open their series against Los Angeles on Saturday.
