Injuries & Moves: Fraley (left ankle sprain) expected back Saturday
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Aug. 9: OF Jake Fraley (left ankle sprain) expected back Saturday
Fraley appeared to roll his ankle when he grounded out to end the top of the second inning during the series opener in Milwaukee. He stayed in for the third but exited before the bottom of the fourth inning, with Stuart Fairchild replacing him in right field.
"He should be fine. He should be back in there tomorrow," manager David Bell said.
Aug. 9: 2B Matt McLain's rehab assignment pushed back
McLain’s recent setback in his efforts to return from left shoulder surgery -- a stress reaction in his rib cage -- has forced the club to scratch the start of his rehab assignment next week.
“He’s still sore in the rib cage,” manager David Bell said. “We’re trying to push it as fast as we can, but he’s not going to start his rehab on the 12th. It’s unfortunate that there was a setback. He was getting pretty close.”
McLain, who had surgery in March to repair the labrum and cartilage damage in his shoulder, came away sore earlier this week trying to build up his number of swings while working out at the team’s Arizona complex. Cincinnati had hoped he could return to help down the stretch. Bell did not speculate on whether the setback could derail hopes that McLain could return in 2024.
“I don’t know. All I know is he isn’t going to start on time,” Bell said. “It’s still day to day. As soon as he gets out of pain, then he’ll pick up his rehab activities right away.”
Aug. 7: OF Will Benson returned from paternity list; OF Joey Wiemer optioned to Triple-A Louisville
Benson was back in the clubhouse on Wednesday following the birth of his second child, daughter Sophia. He received many congratulations from teammates who were extolling "B-man, the father of two."
Wiemer, who was acquired from the Brewers at the Trade Deadline, did not start any games during his brief time up with the Reds, though he did make one pinch-hit appearance and relieved Spencer Steer in left field on Monday. Wiemer is a lifetime .201 hitter with 13 homers and 42 RBIs in 153 big league games. He was drafted by Milwaukee in the fourth round of the 2020 Draft.
10-DAY/15-DAY IL
LHP Brent Suter (partial tear of left teres major muscle)
Estimated return: Late August
Suter, who began throwing ahead of schedule on Aug. 2, threw a side bullpen session in Milwaukee on Aug. 9.
“He’s getting closer. It’s been a speedy recovery,” Reds manager David Bell said.
An MRI exam on July 20 revealed Suter had sustained a partial tear of his teres major muscle while warming up in the bullpen ahead of his relief outing against the Nationals on July 19. He was shut down from throwing for four to six weeks before beginning rehab. (Last updated: Aug. 9)
C Austin Wynns (right teres major tear)
Estimated return: September
Wynns was injured trying to make a throw to third base against the Rays on July 28 and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. (Last updated: July 29)
60-DAY IL
2B Matt McLain (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Potentially September
Reds manager David Bell confirmed on Aug. 9 that McLain’s planned rehab assignment for the week of Aug. 12 has been delayed by a stress reaction in the second baseman’s rib cage. The issue is considered day to day, but there is no new target date for the rehab assignment to begin. McLain came away sore earlier in the week of Aug. 5 trying to build up his number of swings while working out at the team’s Arizona complex. (Last updated: Aug. 9)
RHP Emilio Pagán (right lat strain)
Estimated return: Mid- to late August
Pagán began his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 3, delivering one scoreless inning with one strikeout. He is expected to have three to five rehab outings before being activated. He threw live batting practice to hitters on July 30 at Great American Ball Park. He is eligible for activation from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 8. (Last updated: Aug. 3)
RHP Ian Gibaut (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Late-August
Gibaut tweaked his calf muscle while working back from his forearm strain. He had a cortisone injection and it will be a few days before he throws again. Gibaut started a throwing program at the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz., in late June, and threw live batting practice against hitters on July 30. He was originally expected to begin a rehab assignment on Aug. 8, with the goal to have him back near the middle of the month, though that timeline might be altered. Gibaut underwent surgery on May 9 to relieve a compression in a forearm nerve called the anterior interosseous nerve, or AIN. (Last updated: Aug. 2)
RHP Graham Ashcraft (right elbow strain)
Estimated return: TBD
Ashcraft, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 29, underwent a PRP injection on his elbow and isn’t expected to begin a throwing program until Aug. 19. His July 8 optioning to Triple-A Louisville was voided on July 10 after tests revealed the issue with his elbow. He had felt some tightness, and it was decided to have it checked out by a doctor. (Last updated: July 29)
OF Nick Martini (left thumb sprain)
Estimated return: September
Martini, who had surgery on July 9 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament inside his thumb, was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 13. Manager David Bell hoped that he could return this season, but noted it would likely be no earlier than September. Martini jammed his left thumb on a head-first slide on a failed stolen-base attempt in the second inning on July 6. (Last updated: July 13)
1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (right hand fracture)
Expected return: Possibly postseason
Encarnacion-Strand underwent surgery on July 11 to repair ligament damage in his hand. His recovery is expected to take three months, making him unlikely to return during the regular season. He was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture on the inside of his hand near his wrist on May 8, and he also has ligament damage in the same area. (Last updated: July 12)
LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: September
Williamson recently began a throwing program, and the Reds are targeting July 23 for the lefty to begin pitching from a mound in side bullpen sessions. If all goes well, Williamson could return to action in September. Williamson was diagnosed in June with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder.
Williamson opted against a season-ending surgery to repair it. After meeting with a specialist, though, he went the non-surgical route, and received injections on his left shoulder. (Last updated: July 10)
SS Edwin Arroyo (left shoulder surgery; No. 2 on Reds' top prospect list, No. 47 overall)
Estimated return: 2025
Arroyo is out for the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder during Spring Training. In a March 13 Cactus League game vs. the Giants, the 20-year-old was injured diving back to first base during a pick-off throw. (Last updated: May 17)
RHP Tejay Antone (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Antone was moved to the 60-day IL on April 19 after he had right elbow and arm surgery on April 12 that repaired tears in his ulnar collateral ligament and flexor mass tendon. It was performed in Cincinnati by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Antone, 30, has a 2.47 ERA over 45 big league games since 2020. (Last updated: April 19)