Reds Option Reliever Luis Mey to Louisville After Rough Spring Training

Luis Mey's triple-digit heater wasn't enough to keep him in Cincinnati's spring plans. The Reds optioned the 24-year-old right-hander to Triple-A Louisville on March 18 as part of their Grapefruit League roster cuts ahead of the regular season, with the move coinciding with the recall of Chase Petty from the Louisville affiliate.

Petty, who had started two games for the Reds this spring, allowed 13 runs on 13 hits across 5 1/3 innings in those appearances. His struggles notwithstanding, Cincinnati still turned to him as Mey headed back down to the Bats.

Mey, born in San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic, made his MLB debut on May 1, 2025, and appeared in 14 games for Cincinnati last season. His calling card is raw velocity: he led all of Triple-A with 45 pitches exceeding 100 mph, a number that drew attention across the league. MLB Pipeline ranked him the 20th-best prospect in the Reds' organization, and an earlier look at his Triple-A work showed a 1-1 record with a 4.00 ERA across 10 appearances, including 10 strikeouts in nine innings. The concern accompanying that electric arm, however, was command: seven walks in those same nine innings left his control labeled a "wild card."

The 2025 transaction log tells a familiar story for a fringe-roster reliever with premium stuff. Mey was called up and optioned back down six separate times between May and September, often serving as a roster bridge during other moves. One such recall came when the Reds placed Scott Barlow on the paternity list ahead of a series against the Tampa Bay Rays; Barlow's return the following day sent Mey right back to Louisville. Another promotion came when Cincinnati optioned Alexis Díaz, who had posted a 12.00 ERA in six appearances after returning from the injured list. Díaz, a 2023 All-Star who saved 37 games that season and followed with 28 saves in 2024, was one of the more jarring demotions of that stretch.

Mey's MiLB profile lists two separate 2025 statistical lines: one showing 40 appearances with a 2.48 ERA across 40 innings and 46 strikeouts, and another showing 23 appearances with a 3.43 ERA across 21 innings. The split likely reflects different levels or time windows within the season, though the totals underscore both his durability and the variability in his results.

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Mey has the physical profile to miss bats at the highest level. Whether he refines his command in Louisville and earns a more permanent roster spot when the Reds break for Opening Day will define the next chapter of what has already been a busy professional career.