Injuries & Moves: Pagán, Steer dealing with injuries
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May 19: RHP Emilio Pagán, LF Spencer Steer dealing with injuries
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning during a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, Pagán showed some discomfort after throwing a 1-1 pitch to Jason Heyward. Pagán was lifted from the game and replaced by Alexis Díaz. Pagán complained of trouble with his right triceps, but noted he felt no issues until his last pitch.
“It felt like my arm just kept going. It wasn’t sharp pain. It wasn’t a grab. It felt like my triceps overstretched right in the middle,” Pagán said.
A Dodgers doctor examined Pagán and ran him through some tests that left the club optimistic the injury wasn’t serious. He will be seen by Reds doctors on Monday.
Meanwhile, Steer was limited to a pinch-hitting appearance on Sunday. He drew a walk in the seventh inning and was lifted for a pinch-runner. Manager David Bell revealed after the game that Steer has been dealing with a sore ankle.
“He was available for an at-bat. He should be back fully 100 percent on Tuesday,” Bell said.
May 17: LHP Justin Wilson placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder tightness; RHP Carson Spiers recalled from Triple-A Louisville
Wilson struck out James Outman to end the second inning during Thursday’s 7-2 Reds win over the Dodgers, but did not return for the third inning. He complained of a sore left shoulder and underwent an MRI Friday afternoon. The results were not immediately known.
“That’s why he only faced one batter. He would have gone back out,” Reds manager David Bell said.
Spiers is back for his second stint in the big leagues this season and last pitched four innings of relief for Cincinnati on April 9. A starter at Louisville who last pitched on Sunday, the right-hander has a 2.43 ERA in eight games this season.
10-DAY/15-DAY IL
LHP Justin Wilson (left shoulder tightness)
Estimated return: TBD
Wilson reported left shoulder soreness after facing one batter on May 16 vs. the Dodgers. He underwent an MRI on May 17, with the results not yet known. (Last updated: May 17)
SS Edwin Arroyo (left shoulder surgery)
Estimated return: 2025
Arroyo, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati’s No. 3 prospect and No. 55 overall, 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)
LHP Nick Lodolo (left groin strain)
Expected return: April 27
Lodolo felt soreness even before he pitched six innings during a 5-1 defeat to the Giants on May 11. It did not bother him while pitching, but it also didn’t have a good recovery. He was expected to miss two starts and make a relatively quick return. (Last updated: May 15)
1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (right hand fracture)
Expected return: June
Encarnacion-Strand was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture on the inside of his hand near his wrist on May 8. It happened from being hit by a pitch on April 27 at Texas, and the fracture did not show up on an initial X-rays. He was expected to miss four to six weeks and be examined again in three weeks (Last updated: May 8)
60-DAY IL
LHP Brandon Williamson (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late May
Williamson’s rehab assignment moved from High-A Dayton to Triple-A Louisville, where he made his second start on May 19. Over 3 2/3 innings and 56 pitches against Columbus, he allowed one earned run, five hits and one walk with four strikeouts. On May 14 with Dayton, Williamson threw three scoreless innings with one hit, no walks and four strikeouts while throwing 38 pitches. (Last updated: May 19)
LHP Alex Young (low back disk degeneration)
Expected return: Late May
Young has allowed one unearned run over eight relief appearances and 8 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. He pitched on back-to-back days on May 18-19 at Columbus and worked one scoreless inning in both games. (Last updated: May 19)
2B Matt McLain (left shoulder surgery)
Expected return: Possibly second half
Six weeks removed from shoulder surgery, McLain was cleared to resume throwing and running. He might be able to start swinging a bat in an additional six weeks, which he said would help determine a clearer timeline for his rehab. Both McLain and manager David Bell reaffirmed that the goal is for McLain to return this season. (Last updated: May 10)
RHP Ian Gibaut (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Later in 2024
Gibaut, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 7, underwent surgery on May 9 to relieve a compression in a forearm nerve -- called the Anterior Interosseous Nerve or AIN -- and although there were no immediate specifics, he was expected to require an extended recovery time. However, manager David Bell noted that Gibaut was expected to be able to pitch at some point this season. The club officially halted Gibaut’s rehab assignment for a second time after he reported feeling discomfort in his right forearm during his April 26 appearance with Triple-A Louisville. (Last updated: May 9)
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)