Reiver Sanmartin hopes to earn spot on Colombia roster for World Baseball Classic
CHICAGO – Reiver Sanmartin hasn’t been formally named to Colombia’s roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but he had a quick answer when someone from the roster selection group asked if he had any interest.
“I'd say, yeah, that is the dream for every baseball player, you know,” said Sanmartin, who was a part of Colombia’s designated pitcher pool in 2017 as an option to be added in later rounds. “I said I'd be excited for that.”
Sanmartin, a 26-year-old lefty, has pitched well after moving from the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation to the bullpen. Sanmartin owns a 4-0 record and a 3.10 ERA in 29 relief appearances this season.
Five of the 10 earned runs he’s allowed as a reliever came in one outing when he permitted seven hits in 1 1/3 innings in a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-August. He’s inherited 11 runners in his last 21 appearances and none have scored.
Sanmartin, born in Cartagena, pitched for Colombia in several international events, including an under-23 Baseball World Cup in 2018.
“I’ve done it before, but not at that level,” Sanmartin said. “I’ve done it three times before. I just want to be on that team. I hope. I hope.”
Reds infielder Donovan Solano, a Barranquilla, Colombia, native, played for Colombia in 2017 alongside his brother, Jhonatan. Solano went had three hits in 14 at-bats with two RBIs before Colombia was eliminated in pool play.
Reds roster move: Albert Almora Jr. returns from IL, Colin Moran designated for assignment
Albert Almora Jr. rejoined the Reds Tuesday after missing 15 games on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder contusion and corner infielder Colin Moran was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.
In 42 games with the Reds, Moran hit .211 with five homers, three doubles and 23 RBIs. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the club last offseason.
“Just not getting a lot of playing time,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “We loved having Colin here. Just a great part of our team the time he spent with us. But right now, there wasn’t going to be a lot of playing time for him.”
Almora joins a crowded outfield mix where he will vie for playing time with Nick Senzel, Jake Fraley, T.J. Friedl, Aristides Aquino and Stuart Fairchild.
“The good thing is Jake and T.J. have been playing really well, so they’re going to continue to get playing time,” Bell said. “Albert, we’ll have to figure out how to get him into that mix.”
Reds injury updates: Graham Ashcraft, Hunter Greene, Daniel Duarte
Graham Ashcraft threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, and he was expected to face hitters in a live batting practice session Friday in Milwaukee.
If Ashcraft continues to progress as expected, he will make one rehab start next week before potentially rejoining the Reds’ rotation.
"I think he has a pretty good shot to get two starts here before the end of the season," Bell said.
• Hunter Greene, recovering from a shoulder strain, pitched two innings in his second rehab start at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He struck out six of the nine batters he faced, allowing one hit, one walk and one run.
“We’ve got to decide if he gets one more (rehab start) or his next start is with us in Cincinnati,” Bell said. “It will probably be no earlier than Monday. It wouldn’t be this weekend.”
• Rookie reliever Daniel Duarte, sidelined since mid-April with elbow inflammation, is scheduled to pitch an inning at Louisville on a rehab assignment Thursday.
Reds prospects Tyler Callihan and José Acuña earn weekly awards
Two Reds prospects, infielder Tyler Callihan and right-hander José Acuña, earned weekly awards in their respective leagues Monday.
Callihan earned Midwest League player of the week honors after hitting 11-for-24 (.458 batting average) with two homers, two doubles, one triple and eight RBIs in six games for High-A Dayton. Callihan, 22, was a third-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Acuña was one of the two prospects acquired from the New York Mets in the Tyler Naquin trade in July. Acuña, 19, was named the Florida State League’s pitcher of the week after he permitted one hit in five scoreless innings in his last start while striking out four.
In six outings since joining the Reds, Acuña has posted a 2.25 ERA with 27 strikeouts and eight walks across 28 innings.
Elly De La Cruz, Fernando Cruz earn Reds monthly awards
The Reds announced top prospect Elly De La Cruz and reliever Fernando Cruz were named the organization’s player of the month and pitcher of the month for August, respectively.
De La Cruz hit .355 with six homers, 13 doubles, 25 RBIs and six stolen bases in 24 games at Double-A Chattanooga with a .425 on-base percentage. The 20-year-old De La Cruz is ranked as the sport’s No. 20 prospect by Baseball America.
Cruz was called up to the Major Leagues as a part of September call-ups and made his debut last weekend. Recording a 2.03 ERA in 13 appearances at Triple-A Louisville, he struck out 21 and walked four in 13 1/3 innings while racking up six saves.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: World Baseball Classic: Reiver Sanmartin hopes to pitch for Colombia
