The Cincinnati Reds sent another quality relief arm to the injured list. This time, it’s right-hander Pierce Johnson being lost to injury.
Roughly 24 hours after Graham Ashcraft went on the 60-day injured list, Johnson on Saturday, May 30 was placed on the 15-day IL for what the Reds called right elbow inflammation. Lyon Richardson will return to Cincinnati from Triple-A to backfill for Johnson. The call-up is Richardson’s first of 2026.
The Reds also announced on May 30 that Kyle Nicolas, a spring training trade acquisition from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tyler Callihan, was designated for assignment.
Nicolas’ 2026 season was fraught from the start. He was delayed in arriving to Reds spring training by the World Baseball Classic, but figured to be some kind of contributor based on his 93 career games with the Pirates over several seasons. Once he got his chance with the Reds after starting the year at Triple-A, he walked 13 and posted an 8.59 ERA over 7 1/3 innings.
Losing Johnson (2-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) for any period of time is significant for the Reds as he’d proven himself to be a stable commodity in the bullpen, even throughout May when Cincinnati was hurting for consistency and health throughout its pitching staff.
Richardson became the second Louisville Bats pitcher to join the big league club in as many days after Yunior Marte joined the Reds Friday, May 29, and went on to be charged with four runs later in the day against the Atlanta Braves in an eventual 8-3 loss.
In Triple-A this year, Richardson was 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over 30 1/3 innings.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds lose another pitcher to injury. This time, it’s Pierce Johnson
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
