CINCINNATI — Left-hander Tony Cingrani, called up Tuesday September 4th from Double-A Pensacola, demonstrated that not every prospect needs years in the Minors before a big league promotion.

At this time last year, the 23-year-old was wrapping up his first pro season at Rookie-level Billings in the Pioneer League. He was a little surprised to have received the call to join the Reds.

“It’s my first full season. It’s been a little unbelievable,” Cingrani said. “I’ve been working. I guess it’s paid off.”

Cingrani was 10-4 with a 1.73 ERA in 26 games, including 25 starts, for Pensacola and Class A Advanced Bakersfield. His ERA was the second lowest among all Minor League pitchers with at least 100 innings.

A closer in his senior season at Rice University, Cingrani was a starting pitcher his first three years of college. He throws a fastball, slider and changeup, and he credited organizational coaches Mark Riggins and Tony Fossas with helping him develop the slider. This season, Cingrani credited Pensacola coach Tom Brown for some of his success.

“He’s probably one of the best pitching coaches I’ve ever worked with,” Cingrani said. “It’s going after hitters and competing. That’s basically it. I’m throwing my fastball for strikes and throwing my other pitches in there when I need to get them over.”