Mychal Givens Is A Strikeout Master Who Helps Make Reds A Problem In Postseason

Mychal Givens is a strikeout master with the experience to help make the Reds serious postseason contenders.

The Cincinnati Reds carry themselves with more swagger than most teams in baseball and since acquiring Mychal Givens in July to help boost their bullpen, they have been flexing a lot harder.

Givens let his Reds teammates know exactly what he was about the first time he pitched in their road red uniforms.  He struck out three straight Cubs in his debut and has been the best pitcher out of their bullpen since.

Givens is currently tied for the team lead with eight saves on the season.  He’s converted four consecutive opportunities and is eight for nine with Cincinnati.

Givens was drafted as a shortstop by the Orioles in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida.

He struggled his first few seasons in the Minors and in 2013 was asked to make a permanent switch to the mound.  By the time 2015 came around, the move was appearing to pay off.  Givens posted a 1.60 ERA with 54 strikeouts, 12 saves and a 3-1 record in 39.1 innings for the Bowie Baysox in Class AA.

Givens made his long-awaited Major League debut on June 24th of 2015 and after pitching a one-two-three inning, he was sent back down to the Baysox the next day.  He would be brought back up about a month later and would finish the 2015 season with a 1.80 ERA in 22 games.

Givens made Baltimore’s Opening Day roster in 2016 and would become the first pitcher in their team history to begin his career with seven straight wins as a reliever.  In 62 appearances that year, he struck out 96 batters in 74.2 innings with a 3.13 ERA and an 8-2 record.

Givens got to live out every rookie’s dream of playing in the postseason during their first season and he proved the moment wasn’t too big for him.  During the one game wild card play-in game between the Blue Jays and O’s that year Givens entered the game in the 8th inning.  The score was tied and with runners on the corners he forced a double play and struck out three batters in 2.1 innings.

Givens spent time as a setup man but was given the keys to the Orioles closer job in 2019.  In just 12 games in 2020, he had a 1.38 ERA before being traded to Colorado in late August of that year.

Givens pitched well for the Rockies this year with a 2.73 ERA and 34 strikeouts before being sent to his current home in the great state of Ohio.

On the season Givens has a 3-3 record, 2.85 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 47 innings and eight saves.

Pitching is the biggest deficiency for Cincinnati. Givens has shown he has the ability to get outs late in games and come October, ultimately that is all that truly matters.