The Reds announced Monday they’ve designated right-hander Frank German for assignment and optioned righty Kevin Herget to Triple-A Louisville. That pair of moves will open the necessary roster space to select the contract of top pitching prospect Andrew Abbott, whose previously reported promotion to the big leagues has now been made official.
German has bounced around over the past few months. Originally a Yankee farmhand, he landed with the Red Sox in the trade that saw Boston assume the final year of Adam Ottavino’s contract in 2021. The 6’2″ righty made a brief major league debut with the Sox last season, appearing in five games. He’s since moved to the White Sox in a minor trade and to the Reds via waivers.
The 25-year-old will now be traded or waived again within the next week. German didn’t make a big league appearance with Cincinnati. He had a tough showing in a limited look for Louisville. He allowed eight runs in 8 1/3 frames over 10 relief outings, striking out 13 against six walks. It was a similar story with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate early in the year. German carries a 7.78 ERA in 19 2/3 minor league frames this season, offsetting a solid 28.4% strikeout rate by handing out free passes at a huge 14.7% clip.
German has run major strikeout and walk tallies throughout his minor league career. The former fourth round selection averaged 97.7 MPH on his four-seam during his brief big league look in Boston. He clearly has intriguing raw stuff but will have to dial in the strike-throwing to claim a lasting spot in an MLB bullpen. This is his first of three minor league option seasons.
Abbott takes the vacated roster spot. The University of Virginia product gets an MLB rotation look for the first time thanks to a dominant upper minors showing. Between Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville, the southpaw has worked 54 innings of 2.50 ERA ball while striking out a staggering 42.7% of batters faced.