Santillan pitched the seventh inning Saturday to get his second hold in as many games. Emilio Pagan later got the save.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan was brilliant Thursday in getting his first hold, striking out two batters. In this outing he gave up a single and didn't strike any batters out, but got out of the inning by inducing a double play grounder.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that while Santillan is an "easy choice" to be the closer, "he might be too valuable getting to the ninth," Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Francona admitted he's not sure who his closer will be while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) is sidelined, it's notable that he mentioned Santillan in the fashion that he did, suggesting the right-hander might be the favorite to see the first opportunity. Santillan began last season in the minors after re-signing with the Reds last offseason on a minor-league deal, but he was excellent with the big club after being called up, posting a 3.00 ERA and 46:9 K:BB over 30 innings. Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, Graham Ashcraft and Emilio Pagan are other candidates to see save chances with the Reds.

Santillan will serve as the Reds' opening pitcher in Tuesday's game versus the Cubs, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Frankie Montas had been on turn to start Tuesday, but he was traded to the Brewers on Monday. Santillan is projected to work an inning or two in what will be a bullpen game for the Reds.

Cincinnati selected Santillan's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The Reds placed starter Carson Spiers (shoulder) on the injured list Saturday and called up Santillan to take Spiers' roster spot, opting to add a reliever with the All-Star break looming. Santillan has logged a 3.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 53:24 K:BB over 40.0 innings in the minors this season. He got into three games with the Reds last year, allowing one run on four hits while posting a 5:1 K:BB over 3.1 frames. He'll like serve in a low-leverage role while with the big-league club.

The Reds reassigned Santillan to minor-league camp Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan yielded just one hit with a 10:0 K:BB over five scoreless innings this spring but still wasn't able to make the team. It would not be a surprise if he decided to opt out of his contract and look for another gig elsewhere.

Cincinnati re-signed Santillan on Thursday to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan has been bogged down by various injuries over the last two seasons, but he posted a shiny 2.91 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 43.1 innings as a rookie in 2021. With better luck on the health front, the 26-year-old right-hander could reestablish himself as a useful part of the Reds' bullpen mix in 2024.

Santillan was designated for assignment by the Reds on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan missed the first three months of the 2023 campaign due to back and hamstring injuries and has posted an ugly 9.26 ERA across 23.1 innings of relief at Triple-A. The 26-year-old right-hander showed a lot of promise as a rookie in 2021, but he is now off the 40-man roster in Cincinnati.

Santillan has given up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven in six innings across six relief appearances for Triple-A Louisville since the Reds optioned him to the minors July 19.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan was summoned from Louisville to serve as the 27th man in the Reds' July 18 doubleheader with the Giants, but he was sent back to the minors a day later. He retains a spot on the 40-man roster and could be in the mix for a call-up later on this season, but the Reds don't have an immediate need for an extra bullpen arm.

Cincinnati added Santillan as the 27th man for Tuesday night's game against the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Santillan can be utilized by the Reds in their regularly-scheduled game versus San Francisco after Monday's suspended contest is completed. The 26-year-old missed the first three months of the 2023 season due to lingering back and hamstring injuries, but he logged two scoreless innings for Cincinnati earlier this month and worked a scoreless frame with two strikeouts this past weekend at Triple-A Louisville.

The Reds optioned Santillan to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

After throwing two scoreless innings since returning from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Santillan will be pushed off the active roster to make room for Michael Mariot, who was selected from Louisville on Saturday. The 26-year-old righty put up a 7.00 ERA and 2.22 WHIP through nine innings during his rehab assignment in Triple-A, and he'll likely have to show significant improvement before rejoining the Reds' bullpen.