Reds' plans in tune with Bats pitcher Finnegan

Just 22 years old, Brandon Finnegan wants more to his career legacy than a reputation for becoming the first pitcher to throw in the College and major-league World Series in the same year.

First, the Louisville Bats' lefty is settling into a routine.

At TCU, Finnegan started games. Later in 2014 with the Kansas City Royals, he relieved. Then after having Finnegan do a bit of both this year, the Royals traded him in July as part of the deal that brought Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto to Kansas City.

"The Royals kind of screwed me over this year," Finnegan said. "I wouldn't have done what I did if it wasn't for them last year. But you could tell they just didn't have a clue what to do with me."

The Reds from the onset declared Finnegan a candidate to start games. He built up arm strength in the process, limited to about 45, 60 and finally 80 pitches through July and August with the Triple-A Bats.

Finnegan totaled 30.1 innings in his eight appearances, posting an 0-3 record and 6.23 ERA. He struck out 30 compared to 31 hits allowed while working with Bats pitching coach Ted Power, who called the Texan "a very determined young man."

"I just think he needs to pitch, and whether that's in relief or as a starter, I don't think it matters," Power added. "He can handle the pitches. He hasn't gotten worn out from throwing 75, 85 pitches. That's encouraging. But in a starter's role, you've got to be able to throw that many pitches and be in the sixth inning, not the fourth."

Finnegan, a member of the Reds' 40-man roster, said Sunday he didn't expect a September call up as the Triple-A season closed. But the Reds later announced he'll join their club Tuesday, and with that came some surprising news: Manager Bryan Price said Finnegan will come out of the bullpen to close 2015.

That's still not apparently the long-term plan. But it's similar to how the Royals used Finnegan.

"I think the feeling is he could be pitching in the big leagues right now as a relief pitcher, but the ceiling is kind of like where we were with (Aroldis) Chapman years ago," Price said Monday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Do we really want to commit to the bullpen when the kid can potentially be a starting pitcher? The value, really, is as the starter. If that's something down the road if we determine he's better suited as a reliever, that's an easy switch. He proved he could do that last year and this year."

"I like starting," said Finnegan, selected 17th overall by the Royals in the June draft. "Once I'm in that mentality, it's one of those things where it can get pretty scary for other people. Getting back into it has been tough, but I've got a great team to do it with. These guys have been very welcoming."

Last year, he registered a 1.29 ERA with the Royals in seven appearances late in the season, all in relief. In 14 more outings this season, his ERA was a respectable 2.96.

Should Finnegan return to starting, there's likely opportunity with the Reds, whose rotation next year should include a number of young players alongside of veteran Homer Bailey.

"Honestly, I see him as a power arm in the bullpen," DeShields said. "I see him as a guy who can pitch seventh and eighth inning of ball games -- lefty who can be a setup type of guy. I think his stuff will play better in that role.

"But we'll see. He's a young guy. He hasn't pitched a whole lot. This is really his first year of pro ball, so it's probably too soon to label him."