The bullpen of the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga is full of unlikely players. Lefty Joel Valdez was a Triple-A Rule 5 Draft selection this past winter after stalling in the New York Yankees’ system. Arij Fransen was an international signee not from Latin America, like many of his teammates, but from the Netherlands. But the most unpredictable journey may go to closer Trevor Kuncl, who had never thrown a pitch in affiliated ball until his Double-A debut this April.
Kuncl, who went to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, made his way to George Washington University as a fairly light-hitting infielder.