MLB Rookie Profile: Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

On Saturday the Cincinnati Reds promoted right-handed pitcher Asher Wojciechowski to the major league roster. He saw action immediately pitching 3.2 innings in relief that night against the Colorado Rockies, giving up one hit but no walks and no runs, while fanning three and collecting his first MLB win. He was pitching well in Triple-A before his promotion, so let’s take a look.

Wojciechowski was originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in Compensation Round A of the 2010 draft from The Citadel. In July 2012 he was part of the nine-player J.A. Happ trade between the Blue Jays and the Houston Astros. His 2013 season was impressive (3.32 ERA, 160 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, 131/51 K/BB) but injuries plagued him in 2014.

He received a brief major league trial in 2015, posting a 7.16 ERA in 16.1 innings with a 16/7 K/BB, but was ineffective in Triple-A in 2016 (5.30 ERA in 75 innings). For 2017 he signed a free agent contract with the Reds and was performing very well for Triple-A Louisville, posting a 1.40 ERA in 25.2 innings with a 29/6 K/BB.

Wojciechowski is a 6-4, 235-pound right-handed hitter and thrower born December 21, 1988. He features a classic three-pitch arsenal with a four-seam fastball between 89 and 93 MPH, averaging 94; a slider right around 80 MPH; and a change-up in the lower-to-middle-80s. It’s not spectacular but it works when his command is on, giving him a shot at being a fifth starter or long reliever.

Here’s video from his MLB trial back with the Astros in ‘15.