Reds Recall Former First-Rounder Chase Petty to Face Cubs: A New Era Begins in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Reds are turning the page on a turbulent early-season rotation, and the chapter heading reads “Chase Petty.” In a move that signals both urgency and a long-term vision, the Reds have recalled former first-round draft pick Chase Petty to start Monday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. For a franchise that has been starved for consistent starting pitching, this call-up feels different. This isn’t just a spot start; it’s a glimpse into a future that the Reds have been carefully cultivating since 2022.

Petty, 23, will step into the rotation slot left open when left-hander Brandon Williamson landed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with shoulder fatigue. To make room on the active roster, the Reds optioned right-hander Zach Maxwell to Triple-A Louisville. For Petty, the road to this moment has been anything but linear. Acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Sonny Gray to Minnesota, Petty carries the weight of that deal every time he takes the mound. Now, he gets to show why the Reds believed he was worth a frontline starter.

The Trade That Defined a Franchise Shift

When the Reds traded Sonny Gray to the Minnesota Twins in March 2022, the immediate reaction in Cincinnati was one of skepticism. Gray was a proven veteran, a two-time All-Star who had posted a 3.00 ERA in 26 starts for the Reds in 2021. But the front office, led by General Manager Nick Krall, was thinking beyond the next season. They were thinking about 2025, 2026, and beyond.

The centerpiece of that return was Chase Petty, the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. At the time, Petty was a raw, high-ceiling arm out of Mainland Regional High School in New Jersey. His fastball already touched triple digits, but his command and secondary pitches were works in progress. Fast forward three years, and that raw talent has been refined into a polished arsenal. Petty’s journey through the Reds’ system has been methodical: a 3.48 ERA in High-A Dayton in 2023, a dominant stint in Double-A Chattanooga, and a solid 2024 season split between Louisville and a brief major league debut.

“This is the moment we’ve been building toward,” one Reds scout told me recently. “Chase has always had the arm. Now he has the head and the heart to match.”

Breaking Down Petty’s Arsenal: Why He’s Ready for the Cubs

Petty’s numbers at Triple-A Louisville this season don’t jump off the page—he was 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA in six starts—but the underlying metrics tell a more promising story. His strikeout rate has climbed to 10.2 K/9, and he’s walking fewer batters (3.1 BB/9) than he did at any point in the minors last year. The key development? His sweeper has become a legitimate weapon against left-handed hitters, a pitch that was merely average during his 2023 big-league cameo.

Here’s what Petty brings to the mound against a dangerous Cubs lineup:

• Elite Fastball Velocity: Petty sits 96-98 mph with his four-seamer and can touch 100. Against a Cubs team that ranks in the bottom third of the league in fastball run value, that heat could be a difference-maker.
• Improved Command: He has cut his walk rate by nearly 1.5 per nine innings compared to his 2023 Triple-A stint. The Cubs are patient at the plate (top-5 in walk rate), so Petty’s ability to attack the zone early will be critical.
• Secondary Pitch Depth: His sweeper generates a 45% whiff rate against lefties, and his changeup has become a reliable offering against right-handed hitters. The Cubs’ lineup is right-handed heavy, meaning Petty’s changeup will be under the microscope.

Petty made his major league debut last season, appearing in three games (two starts) for the Reds. He allowed seven earned runs over 12 innings, striking out 11 while walking six. The sample size was tiny, but the lessons were massive. “The biggest adjustment was learning that big-league hitters don’t chase,” Petty told reporters during spring training. “You have to pitch to contact sometimes, and you have to trust your stuff.”

The Rotation Shuffle: What Williamson’s Injury Means for the Reds

Brandon Williamson’s placement on the 15-day IL with shoulder fatigue is a concerning development for a Reds rotation that has been a revolving door all season. Williamson, 26, had been a steady presence, posting a 4.12 ERA over seven starts before the injury. The Reds have already lost Nick Lodolo to a groin strain earlier this year, and Hunter Greene has battled inconsistency. The result? A rotation that ranks 22nd in the majors in ERA (4.68) and 24th in innings pitched.

This is where Petty’s recall becomes more than just a short-term fix. If he performs well against the Cubs—a team that has struggled against power arms this season—the Reds could keep him in the rotation even after Williamson returns. The front office has been hesitant to rush prospects, but the division is wide open. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central, but they are not running away with it. A strong stretch from Petty could be the spark the Reds need to make a push before the trade deadline.

Zach Maxwell, the pitcher optioned to make room for Petty, has shown flashes of dominance in Triple-A but has struggled with control at the big-league level. In 12 appearances for the Reds this season, Maxwell walked 10 batters in 14 innings. The Reds need reliable arms, and right now, Petty’s floor is higher than Maxwell’s ceiling.

Expert Analysis: What to Expect on Monday at Wrigley

Wrigley Field is a graveyard for young pitchers. The wind patterns, the ivy, the raucous crowd—it’s a test of mental fortitude as much as physical skill. But Petty has the makeup to handle it. He pitched in front of 40,000 fans at Great American Ball Park last September, and he thrived in high-leverage spots during the Arizona Fall League.

Prediction: Petty goes 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out six, and walking two. The Cubs’ lineup features lefties Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger, both of whom can punish a young pitcher’s mistakes. Petty’s sweeper will be the key. If he can keep that pitch down and away to lefties, he’ll escape the fifth inning with the Reds in the game. If he leaves it up, the wind could carry a couple of souvenirs into the bleachers.

The Reds’ offense, meanwhile, has been inconsistent but explosive. Elly De La Cruz is on a tear, hitting .312 with four home runs in his last 10 games. If the Reds can scratch across four or five runs, Petty has a real chance to earn his first win of the season. The Cubs will counter with right-hander Jameson Taillon, who has a 4.50 ERA in his last three starts. This is a winnable game for Cincinnati.

The Bigger Picture: Petty as a Building Block

Let’s not kid ourselves—the Reds are not a World Series contender in 2025. They are a team in transition, with a young core of position players (De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte) and a pitching staff that is still finding its identity. But Chase Petty represents something the Reds have lacked for a decade: a homegrown, high-upside starting pitcher who was acquired through a savvy trade rather than a top-5 draft pick.

The Sonny Gray trade will be judged by Petty’s career. Gray, now with the St. Louis Cardinals, is still a solid starter, but he is 34 years old and owed $25 million next season. Petty is 23, cost-controlled, and just now entering his prime. If he becomes a mid-rotation starter—a 3.80 ERA, 180-inning guy—the trade is a win for Cincinnati. If he becomes an All-Star, it’s a heist.

Monday’s start is the first chapter of that story. The Cubs are a playoff contender, and Wrigley Field is the ultimate proving ground. Petty has the stuff, the pedigree, and the opportunity. Now, it’s time to see if he has the results.

Conclusion: A Defining Moment for the Reds’ Future

The Cincinnati Reds are gambling that Chase Petty is ready for the big stage. In a season defined by injuries and inconsistency, the recall of this former first-rounder is a bold, forward-thinking move. Petty has the arm to dominate a Cubs lineup that has been vulnerable against high-velocity pitching, and he has the maturity to handle the pressure of a pennant-race atmosphere in Chicago.

Whether he throws seven shutout innings or gets knocked out in the fourth, this start is about more than one game. It’s about validating a trade, developing a prospect, and giving a fan base a reason to believe. The Reds have been patient with Chase Petty. On Monday night under the lights at Wrigley, that patience will finally be put to the test. If he passes, the Reds may have just found the anchor of their rotation for the next half-decade.

Final prediction: Reds win 5-4, Petty earns a no-decision, but his performance is strong enough to earn a second start. The future starts now in Cincinnati.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.

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