Graham Ashcraft

Ashcraft showed up to last spring training with a new slider and proceeded to post a 25:2 K:BB over 17.1 Cactus League innings. However, while he held a 2.00 ERA over his first six starts of the regular season, a 27:16 K:BB in 36 frames pointed to looming trouble and, sure enough, the wheels came off to the tune of a 12.82 ERA in his next eight outings. Ashcraft was better the rest of the way before needing toe surgery in September, but he never upped the strikeouts to an acceptable level. At this point, we probably can't count on that ever being part of his skill set, although it can't be totally ruled out for a guy who is one of the hardest-throwing starters in baseball. Ashcraft is expected to be physically ready for Opening Day and should remain a great source for groundballs and weak contact, but unless he can start missing more bats he'll always be walking a tightrope at Great American Ball Park. Read Past Outlooks