The Cincinnati Reds have optioned right handed pitcher Josh Smith to Triple-A Louisville and recalled right handed reliever Pedro Villarreal to replace him.
The team placed Smith on the 40-man roster and called him up to give the bullpen another arm for two days, one that they wound up not using, before the required 10 days passed before the team could recall a player on the 40-man roster who had been optioned to begin the season. Today marks the 10th day, so the organization is now able to recall players that have been optioned without a disabled list move being required and they’ve used that timeframe to recall Pedro Villarreal in favor of Josh Smith.
Smith will likely side back into the Louisville Bats rotation, where he was scheduled to appear before being called up to the big leagues. He has yet to appear in a game this season at either level.
Villarreal has made one appearance this season for the Bats, throwing 2.0 shutout innings on April 11th with no walks and two strikeouts.