CINCINNATI -- Struggling reliever Alexis Díaz already lost his spot as the Reds' closer earlier this month. On Thursday, Díaz was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on the heels of a disastrous appearance during Wednesday's Game 1 of a doubleheader vs. the Cardinals.
Cincinnati called up right-handed reliever Luis Mey from Louisville. When Mey appears, it will be his big league debut.
“We decided to put our heads together to let him try to figure [it] out, get right in Triple-A," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "After a doubleheader and the innings that we spent, it’s not just because of that. We also need innings. But the consistency isn’t there.
"We told him, ‘Hey man, we’re not giving up on you. We just want you to go and be more consistent.’ Because we need him to help us win.”
It's been a stunning drop in success for Díaz, who was an All-Star closer in 2023. He is also making $4.5 million this season. Because he avoided arbitration when he signed his contract, he is due the full amount whether he's in the Majors or Minors.
Díaz, 28, has a 12.00 ERA over six appearances this season with eight hits, four home runs and five walks compared to three strikeouts in six innings -- all since he returned from a left hamstring strain on April 15.
On Wednesday, Díaz entered in the top of the ninth inning as Cincinnati trailed the Cardinals, 1-0, and allowed five earned runs. He hit the leadoff batter, and with two outs, gave up homers to three consecutive batters followed by a walk.
However, Díaz's issues were apparent throughout Spring Training and even last season.
Following a late start getting into games because of the hamstring issue, Díaz had trouble putting together clean innings and it became clear that Francona was exploring alternatives for the closer's spot. When he opened the season on the injured list, Francona went with a committee arrangement until Emilio Pagán emerged from the group and saved eight of his first nine games entering Thursday.
Last season, Díaz saved 28 of 32 games, but also had a 3.99 ERA. His WHIP jumped from 1.19 in 2023 to 1.30 in 2024, while his strikeout rate declined from 11.5 to 8.8 per nine innings.
Francona hoped Díaz's mind-set was in a good place to work his way back after being demoted.
"It’s difficult to hear that, I’m sure. Nobody wants to. I didn’t want to tell him that," Francona said. "I’m sure he didn’t want to hear it. But we don’t want that to derail him either. He’s got to go down there and do what he needs to do so he can come back and help us. That’s the objective.”
Mey, 23, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati's No. 20 prospect -- in large part because of a big arm and the high velocity it can produce. But he is still working through command issues.
In 10 appearances for Louisville, Mey has a 4.00 ERA. In his nine innings, he has seven walks allowed with 10 strikeouts.
“He’s got the arsenal. He’s not the finished product, and we know that," Francona said.
Mey has thrown 45 pitches at least 100 mph this season, the most by any Triple-A pitcher. That included reaching 103.5 mph on April 19 vs. Columbus. During the 2025 Spring Breakout game vs. Brewers prospects, he drew howls from his own dugout while frequently reaching 101 mph and touching 102 during one inning of work.
“Oh man, he’s got as good of stuff as anybody," Francona said. "He’s got to pound the strike zone. That’s been a little inconsistent, but that’s OK. That’s part of the maturation process.”
After being hired by the Reds in October, Francona watched Mey pitch in one game during the Arizona Fall League season.
“I think I saw the best inning he’s ever had," Francona said. "I was like, ‘Holy [cow]!’ It was just a wipeout inning.”