Zach Maxwell gets the call as Reds promote bullpen depth while Ian Gibaut heads to 60-day IL
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Friday that right-hander Zach Maxwell has had his contract selected from Triple-A Louisville. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, fellow reliever Ian Gibaut was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL after dealing with a shoulder impingement.
Maxwell, 24, was a sixth-round pick by Cincinnati out of Georgia Tech in 2022. The 6’6”, 275-pound righty ranked as the Reds’ 24th prospect in post-draft evaluations from Baseball America and MLB.com. He has spent the entire season in Louisville, posting 49 2/3 innings out of the bullpen with a 4.17 ERA. Scouting notes highlight Maxwell’s elite velo and swing-and-miss potential: a plus-plus fastball and a slider/cutter combo, with Baseball America noting he can look “unhittable” when his command is sharp.
Command remains the sticking point, however. Maxwell has a long history of control struggles dating back to college, when he walked 20.6% of opponents in his final two seasons before turning pro. He has trimmed that markedly, but this season in Louisville he’s issued walks at a 14.5% clip.
The upside is real. Maxwell locates velocity up to 102 mph and shows the kind of extension that can exaggerate a fastball’s perceived power against hitters. If he can continue to tighten his command, he has the makings of a formidable late-inning option. His profile resembles that of another tall Reds righty, Luis Mey, who relies more on a sinker, while Maxwell leans on a four-seamer. The two could form a potent late-inning pairing if both refine their control, though Maxwell must prove he can repeat his delivery consistently at the major league level. Maxwell is taking Mey’s spot on the active roster, with Mey optioned to Louisville.
Maxwell’s promotion comes as the Reds push for late-season credibility and a potential postseason push. He’ll be auditioning for a future bullpen role over the final weeks of the season. On the other side of the roster move, Emilio Pagan is a free agent after the year, while veterans Scott Barlow and Brent Suter each carry club options. Barlow is considered unlikely to be retained, whereas Suter’s option—at a modest net $2.75 million—could be a factor in the 2026 bullpen discussions. In any case, the organization’s willingness to promote young arms like Maxwell signals an ongoing openness to bolstering the bullpen from within as it plans for the next couple of seasons.
What this means for the Reds bullpen
– Maxwell gives Cincinnati a high-velocity, power-arm option for late innings, contingent on improved command.
– The move mirrors a broader strategy of blending established veterans with affordable internal depth as the club weighs its 2026 bullpen foundation.
– Gibaut’s injury absence creates a temporary opening that Maxwell will try to convert into a regular role, potentially accelerating the team’s evaluation of him for future season planning.
Summary: Cincinnati promoted Zach Maxwell from Louisville to bolster the bullpen while dealing with Ian Gibaut’s injury, highlighting Maxwell’s premium velocity and the ongoing evaluation of young arms as the Reds position themselves for the postseason push and beyond. If Maxwell can refine his control, he could become a key late-inning weapon alongside other young relievers.