Cincinnati promotes slugger Michael Toglia and welcomes back Nick Lodolo as a devastating elbow injury to ace Hunter Greene threatens the future of the Reds' starting rotation.
The Cincinnati Reds have made multiple roster moves ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
Cincinnati selected the contract of first baseman Michael Toglia from Triple-A. He hit .273 with 22 home runs and a .920 OPS for the Louisville Bats this season. Toglia was a first-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2019 and made his debut in August of 2022. The 27-year-old was designated for assignment by the Rockies this past November before being signed by the Reds in January.
Toglia spent four big league seasons with the Rockies, hitting .201 with 42 home runs. He hit a career-high 25 home runs in 2024, before a disappointing .190 season in 2025 led to his eventual DFA.
Toglia’s promotion was in response to Hunter Greene officially being named to the 60-day injured list. It was recently announced that he would miss the rest of the 2026 season and much of the 2027 season, as he will soon undergo surgery on his right elbow for a partial UCL tear.
Greene reported discomfort in his right elbow after a side bullpen session on August 4, which was four days after his most recent start on July 31. Greene’s absence basically seals the Reds' fate this season and throws a massive wrench into Cincinnati’s plans for the 2027 season.
The Reds also reinstated left-handed starter Nick Lodolo from the 15-day injured list. He was remedying the blister issue on his left index finger, which has caused two separate IL stints this season. He made one rehab start with the Louisville Bats, featuring a new grip on his slider, the pitch that has given him the most trouble with the blister issue.
Lodolo has a 4.60 ERA over 62.2 innings this season and a 3-2 record. His continued struggles with injuries give many Reds fans pause about the future of the starting rotation, as both Lodolo and Greene can’t seem to stay healthy.
Relief pitcher Zach McCambley was also optioned to Triple-A. McCambley has a 4.70 ERA in 7.2 innings at the big league level. He was traded for earlier this season in a deal that sent Rece Hinds to the Miami Marlins.
The Reds currently are in last place in the NL Central, 17 games back from first place and just a half game back from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cincinnati has won six of its last 10 games, but was recently swept by the Washington Nationals.
