Reds Claim Ex-1st Rounder Toglia: Lottery Ticket or Steal?
Cincinnati Reds Shake Up Roster: Toglia Called Up, Lodolo Returns, Greene Out for Year
What Happened on Tuesday?
The Cincinnati Reds made several big roster moves on Tuesday. Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Michael Toglia (first baseman/outfielder) was brought up from Triple-A Louisville
- Nick Lodolo (left-handed pitcher) was activated from the 15-day injured list
- Hunter Greene was moved to the 60-day injured list (season-ending UCL surgery)
- Zach McCambley (pitcher) and Ivan Johnson (infielder/outfielder) were sent down to Triple-A
Important Point: These moves affect both the 40-man roster (the pool of players the team controls) and the active roster (the 26 players who can actually play in games).
Meet Michael Toglia: The New Guy
Who Is He?
- Age: 27 (turns 28 soon)
- Position: First base and outfield
- Bats: Switch-hitter (can hit from both sides)
- Background: 1st round pick by Colorado Rockies in 2019 out of UCLA
His Big League Track Record (2022-2025 with Rockies)
| Stat | Number | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 116 (in 2024) | Most playing time he’s gotten |
| Home Runs | 25 (in 2024) | Big power! |
| Batting Average | .201 (career) | Struggles to hit for average |
| Strikeout Rate | 35% | Swings and misses a lot |
| Walk Rate | 9.5% | Doesn’t walk much |
The Catch: Toglia hits the ball really far when he connects, but he strikes out in over 1 out of 3 plate appearances.
Why the Reds Signed Him
- Colorado cut him from their 40-man roster over the winter
- Cincinnati signed him to a minor league deal (low risk!)
- He crushed it in Triple-A this year:
- .273 batting average
- .373 on-base percentage (walks more!)
- .547 slugging percentage (lots of extra-base hits)
- 22 home runs in just 402 plate appearances
- Strikeout rate dropped to 25.6% (better, but still high)
- Walk rate jumped to 13.9% (career second-best!)
Why Is There Playing Time for Toglia?
The Reds have two holes in their lineup right now:
- Nathaniel Lowe → Traded to Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline
- Spencer Steer → Out with a wrist strain
This opens up at-bats at first base and designated hitter (DH).
But He Has Competition:
- Sal Stewart — Rookie of the Year candidate
- Eugenio Suárez — Veteran presence
Toglia’s Platoon Splits (Career):
- Vs Righties (batting lefty): More strikeouts, less power
- Vs Lefties (batting righty): Similar overall numbers
- This year in Triple-A: Actually better as a lefty batter!
Nick Lodolo: The Left-Handed Ace Returns
Where Has He Been?
- On the 15-day IL for a month with blister issues on his pitching hand
- This is a recurring problem for him (blisters, shoulder, back)
How Was He Pitching Before the Injury?
- Overall 2026 ERA: 4.60 (not great)
- Last 4 starts before IL: 1.35 ERA
- He was dominating right before the blister flared up!
His Career High Point (2025):
- 3.33 ERA (career best)
- 24.3% strikeout rate (career best)
- 4.8% walk rate (career best)
- 156⅔ innings (career best)
- 28 starts (career best)
Important Point: Lodolo finally stayed healthy and pitched like an ace in 2025, but injuries have derailed his 2026 season.
The Hunter Greene Situation: Big Blow to Rotation
What Happened?
- UCL surgery = Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction)
- Out for rest of 2026
- Likely out for most/all of 2027
Why This Makes Lodolo’s Return Critical
The Reds’ 2027 rotation is suddenly very thin:
| Pitcher | Status for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Nick Lodolo | Lock (controlled through 2027, final arb year) |
| Chase Burns | Lock |
| Andrew Abbott | Lock |
| Rhett Lowder (top prospect) | 5.26 ERA in 89 innings this year |
| Brady Singer | Free agent after 2026 |
| Depth arms (Petty, Williamson, Aguiar, Franco) | Poor performance or injured |
Important Point: If Lodolo can finish 2026 strong, he becomes the anchoring veteran for a very young, uncertain 2027 rotation.
What’s Next for Toglia? The "Out of Options" Clock
Key Fact: Toglia is out of minor league options.
What Does That Mean?
- Normally, teams can send players up/down between MLB and Triple-A 3 years without losing them
- Toglia has used all his option years
- If the Reds try to send him back down, they must:
- Designate him for assignment (DFA) → Put him on waivers
- Any team can claim him for free
- If unclaimed, he becomes a free agent
The Opportunity:
- Final 7 weeks of 2026 = Audition time
- If he plays well → Reds keep him for 2027-2030 (4 more years of team control!)
- If he struggles → He’s likely gone
Summary
| Move | Player | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Call-up | Michael Toglia | Power bat for 1B/DH; high K-rate but improved walk rate in AAA |
| Activation | Nick Lodolo | Left-handed starter returning from blister; critical for 2027 rotation |
| 60-day IL | Hunter Greene | Tommy John surgery; out until ~2028 |
| Optioned | McCambley & Johnson | Opened active roster spots |
Bottom Line: The Reds are evaluating Toglia for a long-term role while desperately needing Lodolo to rediscover his 2025 form to stabilize a rotation losing its ace (Greene) for over a year.
FAQ
What is the "40-man roster" vs "active roster"?
40-man roster: All players the team controls (protected from other teams claiming them).
Active roster: The 26 players eligible to play in today’s game.
Tuesday’s moves affected BOTH.
What is "Tommy John surgery" (UCL surgery)?
It’s elbow ligament reconstruction using a tendon from elsewhere in the body.
Recovery: 12-18 months for pitchers. Greene will miss rest of 2026 + most of 2027.
What does "out of options" mean for Toglia?
He can’t be sent to the minors without clearing waivers (where any team can claim him for free). He must stick in the majors or be cut/traded.
Why did the Reds trade Nathaniel Lowe?
The article doesn’t specify the exact reason, but it happened at the trade deadline (July 31), suggesting a sell move — likely getting prospects for a player entering free agency.
Can Toglia play the outfield?
Yes! He’s listed as a first baseman/outfielder, giving the Reds defensive flexibility.
Is Lodolo a free agent after 2027?
No — 2027 is his final year of arbitration eligibility. He hits free agency after the 2027 season (unless extended).