Walt Jocketty discusses what role Finnegan will play for the Reds
The Cincinnati Reds acquired lefty Brandon Finnegan from the Kansas City Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade. Finnegan, the No. 17 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, was the first prospect from the 2014 draft to make the major leagues, pitching for the Royals last season out of the bullpen.
However, Reds GM Walt Jocketty said the Reds see him as a starter. Over the past two years with the Royals, Finnegan had a 2.59 ERA in 31.1 IP, 21 relief appearances with a 3-1 record. Finnegan did make 12 starts over the past two seasons in the Royals minor league system and was a starter at TCU.
In 2014 at Advanced-A, Finnegan made two starts, going 0-1 with a 0.60 ERA. In Double-A this year with the Royals, Finnegan made 3 starts going 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA and in Triple-A, Finnegan made two starts, going 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA, before being called up to the big leagues.
The Reds sent Finnegan to their Triple-A affiliate to stretch him out in order to start, Jocketty said, as Finnegan had only thrown a max of 60 pitches in an outing this year.
"He's a guy that's proven he can pitch already in the major leagues, whether as a starter or a reliever," Jocketty said, "But we see him as a starter and that's what we tend to try to develop him as."
