Luis Mey’s struggles finally caught up to him. On Thursday, the Cincinnati Reds sent the 24-year-old flamethrower down to Triple-A Louisville after an up-and-down stint marked by flashes of dominance but far too much erratic pitching.
Meanwhile, former Reds reliever Buck Farmer has been excelling with Louisville and could soon earn a promotion. Since rejoining the organization, the 34-year-old veteran has logged a 3.18 ERA over 12 appearances and racked up five saves. While Farmer doesn’t overpower hitters, his steady presence could bring much-needed stability to a shaky Cincinnati bullpen.
Farmer, who pitched for the Reds the previous three years, became a trusted option for former manager David Bell and posted a career-best 3.04 ERA last season. His experience and composure could be exactly what the Reds need as they look to replace the inconsistencies of their young rookie.
Luis Mey’s latest setback could push Reds toward a familiar solution
Luis Mey’s control issues finally caught up with him, and the numbers back it up. He posted a 1.60 WHIP and issued 16 walks over 20 innings. The Reds leaned on him out of necessity, with Connor Phillips and Sam Moll struggling, Ian Gibaut working his way back from injury, Alexis Díaz away in Los Angeles, and Nick Martinez shifting into the rotation. Still, his command woes made his roster spot tough to justify.
Much like Aroldis Chapman’s early days in Cincinnati, there’s reason to believe Mey’s future is bright. His sinker easily reaches triple digits and generates plenty of ground balls, and his slider can be devastating. The problem? He can’t consistently find the strike zone. Mey’s erratic command has been an issue throughout his minor league career. While there’s been progress, it hasn’t been enough for him to stick in the majors just yet.
The Reds should remain patient with Mey because of his immense upside, but they need reliability right now. In a tight playoff race, Buck Farmer looks like the more practical option to stabilize a bullpen that’s been stretched thin. If Mey can ever harness his command, his stuff is nearly unhittable — but that remains a big “if.”
