The Reds have reached a minor league agreement with pitcher Alan Busenitz, as indicated in the recent transactions log on Busenitz’s MLB.com profile page.
Having entered minor league free agency earlier in the winter, Busenitz is now set for a return to Cincinnati, marking his second season with the organization.
Originally selected in the 25th round of the 2013 draft by the Angels, Busenitz made his Major League Baseball debut with the Twins in 2017, where he spent two seasons as a reliever, accumulating a 4.58 ERA and 5.49 FIP.
Following his release by the Twins before the 2019 season, Busenitz played in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball for the Rakuten Golden Eagles. While his initial season in Japan showcased an impressive 1.69 ERA in 64 innings, his performance saw some regression over the subsequent two seasons, recording a 3.51 ERA in 82 innings.
However, in 2022, Busenitz experienced a resurgence, posting a 2.14 ERA in 33 2/3 innings with a 21.1% strikeout rate. This strong showing led to the Reds signing him to a minor league deal last offseason.
Despite his promising start in the minors and a noteworthy 2.57 ERA in six Major League appearances, Busenitz encountered difficulties in the latter part of the 2023 season. His struggles culminated in a concerning 13.91 ERA in the final 11 minor league outings, resulting in an overall mediocre 4.94 ERA in 51 innings for the season.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, if Busenitz can avoid a late-season slump, he may become a valuable depth asset for the Reds, especially considering the heavy reliance on their bullpen in the previous year. The competition for a spot in the Reds bullpen this spring will involve Busenitz competing with other pitchers such as Fernando Cruz and Buck Farmer.
In another development, this article also discusses the sixth-longest home run of the Cincinnati Reds’ 2023 season, hit by Jason Vosler. The blast occurred on April 4th off pitcher Hayden Wesneski, with Vosler capitalizing on a misplaced 90.3 MPH sinker for a 444-foot home run.
The article delves into various metrics surrounding the home run, including launch angle, exit velocity, and rankings within the Reds and MLB. Despite Vosler’s early-season success, the article notes that it marked his final home run in the Major Leagues for the year, as he struggled in subsequent games and was eventually assigned to Triple-A Louisville.
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