[KChiefs1]

Finnegan & Lamb

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...bats/30802697/

Brandon Finnegan parted easily from an organization that drafted him during TCU's run to the 2014 College World Series, then made history by sending the lefty out as a Kansas City Royals reliever in the major-league World Series the same year.

Introduced as a Louisville Bats pitcher Tuesday, Finnegan quipped that he'll "get to swing a bat now, so I'm pretty pumped." On the mound, the Reds will make him a starter, a role he had off and on during his year with the Royals' organization.

"I like starting, but I don't like being taken out once I get in a groove, and that's what was happening with Kansas City," said Finnegan who, along with fellow lefties John Lamb and Cody Reed, was acquired by the Reds in Sunday's Johnny Cueto trade.

"I don't think they knew what was going on, to be honest with you. But I wouldn't be able to do what I did if it wasn't for them. It was fun."

THE COURIER-JOURNAL
Reds looking to Bats for Cueto's replacement

Finnegan is 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in the majors this year, all 14 of his appearances out of the bullpen. At Triple-A Omaha, he went 0-2 with a 7.07 ERA; four of Finnegan's six outings there were starts.

Finnegan and Lamb, also sent to Louisville, have not yet been activated. Likewise, neither knew as of Tuesday afternoon when they may first appear for the Bats.

First, pitching coach Ted Power said he planned to sit down with Finnegan to "let him tell me what he thinks his strengths are, where his trouble areas are on his delivery with certain pitches," Power said. "…Obviously, the guy's had a high level of success already, so he has a pretty good idea of what he's doing."

The Reds may need pitching by the week's end. David Holmberg will fill Cueto's spot in the rotation Thursday. The trade deadline then looms at 4 p.m. Friday, with Cincinnati likely to deal starter Mike Leake as well.

"Hopefully I'll be up with the rotation sometime," the 22-year-old Finnegan said. "That's what Kansas City had planned for me to do, but obviously that wasn't following through. I'm ready to go."

Finnegan, from Fort Worth, Texas, played three seasons at TCU. Three publications named him an All-American his senior year.

Lamb's in the middle of a comeback season. Years removed from elbow surgery, the 25-year-old went 9-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 2015 at Triple-A Omaha, allowing just 28 earned runs in 94.1 innings.

As for the opportunity he, Finnegan and Reed have to make it to the majors, Lamb noted closer Aroldis Chapman's the only current lefty Reds pitcher. He, too, could be traded this week.
"I just am grateful to be in a place where there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel," Lamb said.

Added Finnegan: "It's crazy to see three left-handers going from one organization…It's definitely cool to be a part of that. They wanted me as a starter, and that's definitely a blessing. It took some people to put that in my head – to understand how big of a blessing this is and how much fun it's going to be. We all three have got a really good chance to make something out of this, and I can't wait to do it."